Byfords in North Norfolk

Can’t fault the cakes and savouries but I cannot understand why they use so much single use plastic and cellotape to wrap them.?This isn’t very environmentally friendly.

We had take out lunch (sandwiches etc) which were ok and reasonable prices so came for supper the next night. The staff were friendly but very slow, took 25 minutes to get first drinks when it really was not busy. The food was pretty awful - the paella (£25!!) seemed packaged and artificial, just awful, prawns less than a cm, very oily, seemed like a reheated Aldi rice packet. The margarita pizza (£14) had huge slices of onion under the cheese and too much herbs like a jar of premade tomato sauce had been used, bases not fresh dough. Burgers (£20 a pop) not good at all, horrid coleslaw, and a £100 bill for a family of 4 for 1 course (didn't dare try the puddings) and 1 drink each seemed far too much for very poor food quality. One small plus is the chips (came with burgers) were ok. The only positive was leaving. Definitely would not recommend.

Called in for breakfast was greeted by lily who was charming and welcoming ,food was of great quality and coffee was outstanding ,lovely atmosphere and when paying had a lovely chat with Lesley, outstanding on all levels

Oh my god what a restaurant/cafe going to Byford is life changing the cakes are amazing the food is amazing the afternoon tea is amazing the venue is amazing everything is amazing. One word to describe Byfords is PERFECT

Some of the tables outside say ‘takeaway only’ and the ones further back have signs on that say table service and have a QR code for the menu and paying. We sat outside at one of the tables that doesn’t say takeaway. QR code didnt work. Seats were grubby and next to us was an overflowing bin full of takeaway cups. Nobody came out to take orders and I saw several other people decide to leave after waiting a while, then we decided to do the same. Shabby outside tables in need of tlc. If all tables outside are takeaway only, make this clearer. Remove the QR codes and table service signs on the tables closest to the building if this isn’t an available anymore. Poor experience.

Byfords never fails to impress, I came here with Family in September for afternoon tea and everything was delicious, portion size was great and everything was nicely presented. There was a lot more drinks options than I expected which was pleasant and the option to refill the sandwiches and drink was a great bonus. The staff at Byfords are always exceptional, so attentive and friendly which makes it a cut above the others.

Stopped for lunch here today and sat outside with our 2 dog's in the sunshine. We had a good lunch which we shared of Margharita pizza, portion of chips and a beef and Stilton pasty. Plus 1 latte and a glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. The staff were all lovely and happy in their work. Nice relaxed atmosphere and we really enjoyed our lunch apart from one tiny thing.....too much semolina on the base of the pizza which we scraped off so all good in the end. Inside the restaurant looked very busy too which is a good sign. Can definitely recommend.

Service: Prompt and efficient, no issues with receiving menus or placing orders in a timely manner. We were able to pay our bill on our phone by scanning a QR code at the table. Atmosphere: Most of the interior seating was closed for an afternoon tea event so we were seated outside (we were a bit lucky to find a table as outside seating has much smaller capacity). The tables didn't feel too cramped and there was plentiful shade. Food: Our chocolate gelato milkshake was thick, rich and a delight to drink. We also ordered a roasted sweet potato frittata (well-balanced flavours, cooked well, accompanying slice of toasted rosemary focaccia was excellent), posh cheese on toast (sturdy bread that held up well to the cheese, wonderfully savoury, rich and moreish) and tomato & basil soup (light, tomato flavour that shined through and paired well with the cheese on toast).

Top notch Afternoon Tea at Byfords today. Catered for my wife's onion/garlic allergy by swapping out and replacing. Perfect. The pots of tea were greatly enjoyed - great brew - and the food was delicious. The staff were friendly, polite and courteous. The only criticism I had was that we had to queue, despite having a booking, but that was a (very) small thing in a delightful afternoon. Big thanks to the staff!

We visited today for breakfast. Unfortunately there was only one waitress, taking orders serving and clearing up. Not ideal. It took an age for our order to be taken. It took an age for our breakfast to arrive. The waitress was lovely.....but obviously stressed, as she was alone. The food was lovely. Kedgeree and breakfast hash. Delicious 😋 I would have given 5 stars, if the service had been good. If they get the staffing sorted then it would be perfect.

What a brilliant cafe and takeout. . Had the roast box, which was full of.meat, sausage, stuffing, crackling,. Potato, gravy and apple. Sauce.

Stopped here for something to eat and refreshments after a long journey, but they don’t do meals during the day. We decided to just have refreshments only, as I was driving went for non alcoholic blackcurrant and lemonade the waitress asked if we wanted pints, on such a hot day we opted for pints. I was absolutely horrified and disgusted by a bill of £11 when we asked why the high bill we were informed that they charge a staggering £5 per pint of LEMONADE and £0.50 for a teaspoon full of blackcurrant cordial. I will not be returning to this establishment, also waitress "should" have informed us of cost when she suggested pints!

Sensationally good mocha and hot chocolate were really good, amongst the best we’ve had. Also a lovely place to watch people go by!

We just stopped off for a scone and tea whilst exploring Holt. Service was especially good from the delightful young people working there, scones were really nice and we had a big mug of tea. Nice seating area or takeaway service. Would highly recommend.

Only called in for a light lunch but well they did not disappoint when they the portion size and safe to say they saved us a small fortune as dinner was not needed afterwards. Really nice atmosphere, great location and attentive staff who are always super busy. Very much recommend this place, and if the restaurant wasn’t enough, their deli is just amazing

The Good: Lots of lovely things in the deli to look at as you walk through to the cafe. We turned up as walk-ins and were greeted warmly and promptly seated in the lovely dining area with its wooden beams. The Not So Good: Very difficult to catch the attention of staff, despite the cafe not being very busy at the time. Staff were more interested in chatting to each other than checking on customers first. No dedicated staff member for our dining area as each time we needed help, we had to resort to waving down whoever was whizzing by as no-one came to check on us or looked in our direction when chatting in a group just a few feet away. We had to ask for the bill twice as it never arrived after the first request.We wanted to have some fruit scones, but none were available even though it was the start of the afternoon tea period. Note: If you want to have a classic afternoon tea with scones, cakes and sandwiches, then you need to book this in advance. The pastries were ordered instead were huge, but I found mine to be dry on the outer layers. So with hindsight a slice of cake would have been a better choice. We had originally been planning to visit for breakfast, but after our experience with coffee/tea, we were glad we had gone elsewhere. A shame, as with just a bit more attentiveness by staff, it would have been a much better experience. Maybe in the evening when you have to make a booking for dinner, things are different when it's a bit busier.

We stayed here for 2 nights, broken by a night somewhere else between. Parking is limited, but we were lucky both times to grab a space. On our first visit we had room 3 - it is perfect - lilies in the room, candles, good cosmetics, comfortable bed etc. Sadly, the second visit proved less comfortable - room 6 - very low, slanting roof beams, which meant we spent most of our time in the room crouching.Breakfasts are very good - a huge choice - local kippers, kedgeree, traditional English, muffins, any combinations of things on toast, croissants and such. Fresh fruit and yogurt, cereals, pastries and toast to help yourself to. A great range of loose-leaf teas. Staff everywhere are the main asset here - on reception and in the restaurant - so friendly and happy - it really makes the difference.A queue forms quickly at lunchtimes, but we did enjoy a very good lunch on arrival - smoked haddock omelette for me - and they try to get people seated as soon as possible. We booked dinner for on of the nights - again, lovely food and large portions. With all food service, however, we experienced long waits for food, and difficult to catch someone's eye to ask for something. It is not a cheap hotel at all - you pay Holt prices, but restaurant prices are very reasonable. Do get a "Norfolk passport " if you stay here for good discounts; There are also little perks like free tea and cake on day of arrival, and for bills over £25 a reduction in the adjacent bakery.

On walking past Byfords, you assume it is a quaint English tearoom but it is so much more. Once you have walked through the area selling take away coffee and delicious food and baked goods you come to the fab restaurant. We had the most delicious brunch on a rainy Norfolk morning and a fantastic dinner on another occasion - an interesting and fresh menu. The highlight for us was the warmth of the welcome and the truly delightful staff - well done, what a difference it made to an already great experience.

We returned to Byfords after many years and were not disappointed. We only wish we could have managed lunch but because our hotel’s food was so good, we could only manage coffee and cake which was served by a very pleasant and humorous young man.

We ate here while in Holt, so glad we did as our food was lovely. My pizza was delicious and my husband had a burger which was just as good. We both had gelato, the best I've had. I'm also addicted to the cucumber lemonade, I would gladly drive 2 hours again just for this!

We had the best breakfast here. We couldn’t book but turned up on a sunny Sunday morning and bagged a table outside. Like many places they were struggling with staff numbers but they explained this and we were happy to wait a bit. Great coffee and incredible kedgeree and breakfast hash. I don’t give five stars often but this was totally worth it !

We were so pleased to be back at Byfords after a few years. It was great to seeing Mark again, who is super efficient & always smiling. We missed Laura but she was very helpful prior to our visit. The staff here are absolutely lovely & so helpful. Aiden was very cheerful when we had breakfast & very much later in the afternoon when he seated us for a snack he was still smiling & courteous. We had to wait briefly to be seated but he kept us all informed about the wait & was super cheerful. Two other members of staff who stood out were Amelia (Mils) very efficient who constantly kept an eye on whether we needed anything else. She was extremely friendly & helpful. Also Ellie, who like Aiden & Amelia, was very efficient, friendly & made sure we had everything we needed. On Saturday evening after a very poor experience in a local hotel/restaurant, Ellie swiftly brought us a couple of large glasses of wine & we sat in the window of Byfords restaurant to recover! The staff here are very attentive & exceptionally helpful, they also seem to get on very well with each other which makes this place work even better. The bistro style food was very good & on arrival residents are offered a complementary drink & piece of the delicious cake, which is a very nice idea.The rooms have been beautifully designed & are extremely comfortable, especially with the super sprung mattresses. All the bathrooms have a vase of lilies & lovely products. There are freshly made shortbread biscuits & a good selection of coffee. This is a great place to stay in the centre of the lovely old market town of Holt. The staff all go the extra mile & that makes staying here a real pleasure. Byfords is very highly recommended.

Staying here right now and I have to say the rooms are absolutely gorgeous.Sadly the food in the restaurant this evening did not live up to its reputation. Starters were fine. I had pulled porkBurger which was nothing like I expected. Paprika chips that barely had any paprika on them. Dry burger. Husband had the steak / pie combo which he said was just ok. Banoffee sundae was very poor just banana, way too much cream and flavourless ice-cream. No toffee sauce and barely any biscuit. House white wine was like vinegar. Wanted to stay here for so long but the food was extremely disappointing. Let’s see what breakfast is like in the morning lol. I won’t be returning which is bad news for Byfords as we stay away in Norfolk every month……so could have been a regular customer

Eaten at Byfords in the past but this was the first time I have stayed overnight in ‘posh B&B’. Located in the beautiful Georgian town of HoltThe room and breakfast were superb. The receptionist and other staff were welcoming and friendly. The only downside was the lack of parking. There is only 8 spaces, which is significantly less than the number of rooms. LocaL parking is only for 1 hour between 0800-1800. Otherwise, excellent!

If you are vegan and don’t want a mushroom sausage roll, falafel sandwich or a cookie then avoid as in my experience today that is all they can offer you..,com’on Byfords get with the times and stop forgetting the animal lovers pleeeeaaase , I am sure you are already aware that there’s a climate change happening and because of this all restaurants should be acting responsibly by offering lots of meat free options

This is a favourite place for us and we always recommend it to friends. They have a separate vegetarian menu with stars on the meals which can be made vegan. Although there is not a vast choice the food is always wonderful and the staff are super happy to offer suggestions to make the meal even better when parts of the meal is not vegan so has to be substituted. Cant recommend enough! 5*

Fantastic family meal. Such a beautiful and welcoming place. Staff very helpful and pleasant. Impressive range of gluten free options. Amazing food. We will definitely return to Holt just to eat at Byfords again.

I bought a single cone banana ice cream. It was absolutely delicious. Additionally the person who served made sure the cone was generously filled with a large done perched on the top of the cone.You must visit and buy! Caramel, mint chocolate chip, vanilla, strawberry, and banana to choose from. Enjoy! Thank you Byfords!

We had a voucher to use up so spent the day travelling and visiting places on the North Norfolk coast. We had tried to book for an early lunch but Byfords only allow evening bookings. We were a bit worried as a family of 5 we thought we would have trouble getting a table, especially in summer holidays and it being a Saturday but we got there 11.30am ish and got a table straight away. We ordered 3 kids meals, a breakfast and a steak and cheese baguette and plenty of milkshakes. We all thoroughly enjoyed the food and the drinks. Toilets were very nice and clean. I loved how they made the children feel so welcome and the paragraph it had on the menu about behaviour of children. Really made for a relaxing lunch. Staff attentive, friendly and quick, food amazing and thought it was good value. Having lived in Norfolk for over 15 years not sure why we haven't visited before but we will most definitely be visiting again.

When you read Posh B and B, it truly is. What lovely staff. My partner and I had an amazing room (room 10) the bed was so soft and very comfortable. The room has Everything you need including a large bath and shower. Full length mirror small fridge and large tv that included sky. Would definitely return.

Visited whilst on a day out at Holt, we got there around 11.30am before the lunch time rush. Ordered a scone and two hot drinks. The drinks arrived first, and we thought the scone would follow shortly after this. Unfortunately, not, staff seemed busy doing nothing and hard to attract anyone’s attention.There also seems to be others waiting for food too, and drinks finished. We decided as we had finished our drinks we thought it was best to forget the scone and just settle the drinks bill.The scone then arrived and the staff member kindly offered us a free top up as could see we waited too long. However, we had to chase this. On a positive, hubby said the scone was absolutely delicious and staff were polite.

We came across Byfords in the heart of Holt, A lovely restaurant for breakfast, lunch and takeaway evening meals. Tuesday 5th August we ordered a click and collect meal for four of us, very tasty and well presented food.in the bakery a wide range of pasties.On Thursday 6th my wife and I had lunch there, coffee was very good value for money, I had Smashed Avocado: With fresh chilli, cherry tomatoes and poached eggs.. it was lovely, never seen so much avocado under a poached egg before, absolutely delicious, my wife had Hog Baguette: Sliced roast pork, stuffing, gravy, apple sauce & seasoned fries, she loved it.

Very lovely facility in middle of Holt ideal for brunch. Just a minor issue, black pudding, (my favorite) 3/4 of a slice (what happened to the other 1/4? and over cooked, should have said something then. rest was excellent. Norfolk passport? should be more info around (10% discount if you have one).

Scones overcooked, tea stewed, staff inattentive, crockery chipped, all 3 ladies toilets out of order so definately won’t be returning

We visited here for breakfast on a Saturday morning, lovely atmosphere, lovely staff and plenty of seating. We had full English breakfast and the breakfast hash. It was lovely, I definitely recommend and will be returning.

Came here with two young children. Immediately welcomed with crayons and a high chair, which was lovely. The food was really good. We had Arlington Poached eggs and a brunch pizza, both a of which were excellent. St Clement’s juice was perfect on a hot day and the coffee was also very good! Jody was particularly attentive throughout and it made such a difference to have top class service. We shall visit again!

We had the most fabulous meal at Byfords, we couldn’t fault it. The £28 three course meal was exceptional value for the excellent food we chose. Well deserved 5 stars

Myself, my husband and our 14 year old daughter visited holt for some lunch on the 31st of July. We was greeted and seated quickly and was placed in the middle of the restaurant, it was very quiet when we was seated (not complaining!) We was greeted by a young waitress with dark hair up in a ponytail who took our drink order and was very patient with us whilst we decided what to eat, I have a gluten allergy and she explained the menu to us and what I could have which could suit my dietary requirements, I ordered eggs Arlington on gluten free bread, without butter. My daughter who is autistic has a very hard time speaking to people she doesn’t know it makes her extremely nervous, this young waitress was absolutely amazing with our daughter, made her feel comfortable and even made suggestions to her from the menu which really made my daughter feel comfortable, she kneeled down to be able to speak easier to our daughter which we think was A* considering a lot of people struggle to communicate with people on the spectrum, this particular waitress knew exactly what to do and we had never had such lovely experience with that before. She is a credit to the company and I believe this restaurant might be our new favourite because of this alone, the food was also spectacular and we wasn’t waiting long at all, for food or drinks. Very very impressed with byfords and their staff! A*****

Due to the pandemic, service is taking a little longer which we appreciated. Our main meals were delicious - Store Platter and Byfords Salad Plate with Roasted Salmon. We then ordered Opera Gateau and Rhubarb Trifle. Regrettably the Rhubarb Trifle came complete with a large shard of plastic in it!!! The staff reaction was very matter of fact - makes me wonder if this happened often - although they did take it off the bill - wouldve expected more of an apology as its unacceptable. Ruined the overall experience unfortunately

Very disappointing breakfast!! All the food appeared to have been hanging about under the heat lamps for too long. The poached egg was so over cooked you could have used it as a tennis ball. Unable to sit inside as these seem to be for the B&B guests which is fair enough but on a damp morning it would have been nice if the tables snd chairs had been wiped dry. Breakfast arrived but no cutlery so had to wait during which time the luke warm breakfast cooled even more. On a plus note the cappuccino was very nice. Really disappointed and at £12.75 each I was expecting a much much better full English breakfast.

We visited Byfords twice for dinner during our week’s stay in Holt. We also bought sandwiches here to take out. Service is super friendly & efficient throughout with a one way system & social distancing in place to ensure everyone feels safe during their visit. Food at dinner was excellent and we particularly enjoyed pork belly, sea bream and the grazing plates. Booking in advance recommended as this place gets busy both in the evenings and at lunch time. Afternoon tea also appeared to be pretty popular here.

Deeply disappointing, the sandwiches were wet, the beef tough, and the chocolate cakes and macaroons sickly. After a great build up and anticipation it was a real let down. We were really looking forward to it. On the plus side the staff were great, the scones delicious and the toilets squeaky clean.

Ate one evening here and food was delicious. Service excellent from a happy team. We had 3 breakfasts as we were staying at The King's Head. Delicous and lots of choices

Met my Mum for breakfast at Byfords, the staff were extremely pleasant. However the menu is very limited, my Mum is vegan and they only had one choice for breakfast so she ended up only having toast! They then brought out butter when she asked to have vegetable spread. The staff were very apologetic however the restaurant needs to improve their menu to modern times! Many people are vegan now and I thought a high profile restaurant like Byfords in a popular north Norfolk town would be able to cater for different dietary requirements. I choose the English muffin, poached eggs and avocado, it was average, the avocado was starting to go brown so wasn’t fresh. If you want an expensive, average breakfast then Byfords is the one for you.

Managed to get an inside table for breakfast - staff were very welcoming, friendly and efficient. 4 of us all had different meals but all were delicious. Would recommend

We spent a week in a village near Holt and ordered click and collect from Byfords three times. The food was lovely (mostly) but the service left a lot to be desired. Twice, items were left out of our order and I had to go back to ask for the missing item. With one order, I discovered a further missing item after I had gotten home! I rang the shop about this and asked for a refund. Not once was an apology offered for messing the order up -on any of the 3 phone calls that it took to get the refund sorted. Such a shame, not likely to return there again.

What is there to say? Excellent food, great service, quirky place with homely atmosphere. Had the breakfast hash and cheese platter, both great food. You have to eat here if in Holt. After 5pm have to book, otherwise its a queue system. Thoroughly recommended!

Stood outside and was told there was a 35-45 min wait so one of our party stayed whilst we went to find somewhere else - and then they actually let us in within 5 minutes. Seems odd if you want the custom - however when we walked in the place was less than half full so no idea why we were told we couldn’t come in . Then after sitting for a while had to virtually flag down the waiter who came and then took out order . The food was distinctly average - the cheese steak sandwich was burnt and tasteless - the mushroom and tarragon soup - was Luke warm - and again tasteless . Really disappointed- a lot of money for poor quality .

Breakfast…wow! Cakes….wow! Staff service…. Ok, wow too. Fab all round and a definite must no matter when you decide to visit. Their control of social distancing is spot on without disrupting your experience. Well done to all.

I cannot claim that this place is bad. It is not, but it always seems disorganised. One of our party twice tried to book a table for 6 and was told that bookings were not being taken. We would have to turn up and "should not have to wait long". On arrival, the very first words we were greeted with were, "Have you booked?" This does not inspire confidence!Having remonstrated with the member of staff, we were eventually let in and allocated an appropriate table.The waiting staff were friendly and willing, but there seemed to be an air of general disorganisation including the taking of a wine order for a wine that turned out to be out of stock.Prices are reasonable, especially if you are a regular and hold a "Norfolk Passport" card (which entitles you to a discount).Food quality is ok......nothing exceptional, but certainly all right.The quirky timbered interior is pleasant and quite unusual and the overall ambience is good. My verdict is very mixed. I feel that, with tighter management, it could be a very good restaurant but, as it was......could do better!

We had two lovely meals at Byfords during our recent holiday near Holt. The first was so good, we had to go back again! Lots of option for dairy free, gluten free and other allergies. The chilli beef on the small plates was so delicious, never tasted anything like it. Also, the Jearys beef dish is probably one of the best things I have ever eaten!! Thank you for such an amazing meal, and for putting a candle in my partner's brownie for his birthday!! Oh, and the Banoffee Sundae was so good. Basically, everything was PERFECT!

Dropped in on a whim last night. Got served by a young man and a young lady called Charlotte. Excellent customer service from both. The food (sweet chilli beef strips) was delicious. The house cider, light and refreshing. Sat outside enjoying people watching, but a delight inside. Wonderful place. Lovely staff.

I have been on many occasions but on this occasion they fell VERY SHORT. WE ARRIVED, details taken, shown to table menus offered and order taken - all good thus far. Got chatting to couple at next door table celebrating his birthday. They had ordered an ice cream for one of their deserts - when it arrived it was in a cup and TOTALLY METLED! This never should have been even thought acceptable to take to a customer. The waitress limply apologised saying “the kitchen was hot”. The poor lady was upset, her husband complained and they were not even offered fresh ice cream/ refund or a “peace offering”. It was his birthday, his wife did not want a “scene”, but they said to us “it’s ruined his birthday”! Meanwhile eventually (despite the place being very quiet) our food arrived - no cutlery had been brought to eat it with AND NO DRINKS (tea & soft drink). The kedgeree soft poached egg was good. The portion was smaller than normal (this was ordered from the menu which operates from breakfast to 2.30pm).The rice was certainly not the type of rice they normally use, and the colour of the rice was a rather strange / funny colour. Again not what I have had on lots of occasions here. The toast was good - albeit rather stronger curry flavour than normal. The Earl grey tea was fine. We felt so bad for the poor couple (older in age) on the other table, and we were UNIMPRESSED WITH SERVICE and FOOD on this occasion. BYFORDS - seem to be trading on their “name” far too much and certainly NOT on their service or quality of the food leaving the kitchen and being served at the table. STAFF - Byfords seem to reply on a lot of very young and inexperienced serving staff, who (from what I was overhearing when other customers asked questions about dishes on the menu) had no clue about what some things were on the menu or their ingredients. COME ON BYFORDS - you can do much better than what we experienced today in your restaurant. I shall return, if only to see IF you listen and pull your socks up. Which after all the lockdowns and challenges you socks and standards seem to have slipped down. Final verdict - Poor could have done much better.

We had 2 fabulous breakfasts and evening dinner - really fabulous. I had the Crispy Beef for a starter and The Byford's Salad Plate with Roasted Salmon Fillet and my husband the Scotch Egg with Garlic Mayo and the Seafood Linguine. Everything was so tasty and fresh.For our first breakfast, I had the Byford's Breakfast Hash and my husband had the Byford's Breakfast - there was so much lovely food! The mocha is possibly the best I've ever had! The second morning I had a build my own breakfast and my husband had an omelette - both were served hot and delicious. The staff were really friendly and helpful at each sitting - nothing was too much trouble!

I was given a gift of afternoon tea for 2 before the pandemic arrived and didn't use it straight away as it was the end of the year. Byfords kindly extended this for me so i took my daughter for her 50th Birthday today. I emailed Byfords to book this advising them of a mustard allergy and we booked for 3pm. I mentioned it was afternoon tea in the email (which because of the length of time i actually printed out the email and took it with me) . When we turned up they acknowledged our reservation but we were told it hadn't been booked in as afternoon tea. Very apologetic and said she would have to talk to the Chef. Our sandwiches would have to be made as they weren't expecting us for afternoon tea. Fine after about half an hour our tea arrived. Forty five minutes later the sandwiches and cakes were served. I wish they hadn't bothered. .The bread was nigh on stale as though it had been left out in the air for well over an hour. We were told we could top up with more sandwiches but the quality of these were not enticing enough. No one asked us if everything was alright, not until we had finished, whilst other tables were treated like Royalty.I am very disappointed with this as i have eaten at Byfords before albeit not for afternoon tea. I would go back again but NOT for afternoon tea. The lady who showed us to our table was very apologetic and cannot fault her for her efforts but overall Byfords ruined a near perfect Birthday

We have stayed in some lovely hotels over many years but this had the nicest bedroom we have ever had. The bathroom was also very spacious and very clean.We had a very warm welcome and felt very at home. Breakfast was very tasty and the staff were very friendly. Very well located in this pretty little town.

Brilliant breakfasts. From a big choice in the menu we had full English (teenager) vegetarian (mum) eggs & salmon (dad) scrambled eggs (teenager and 8yo). All brilliant. Service was great, very friendly. Kids menu with an activity sheet went down well.

Six weeks ago I booked table to celebrate a family birthday on 3 June & had specifically asked for window table. On 11 May I contacted Byfords again to check reservation & window table - all confirmed. However, very, very disappointed to arrive last night and told window table table not available as "things had been changed round"!!! Attitude of female who conveyed this was flippant and unapologetic! This was an important celebration after an extremely difficult year.Byford's has always been one of our favourite places to dine and this was my first meal out for well over a year so I was extremely disappointed. The food was fine but over priced, however, the chap who served us couldn't of been nicer.

Nice food albeit would have liked more choice for something cooked/salads at lunchtime, rather than just Brunch. Friendly staff and great setting.

We had brunch here late morning and really enjoyed the food. The building is interesting and the inside space is much larger than the outside suggests. Great care was taken on checkin, the staff and systems are very much Covid aware, tables inside are well spaced and the one way system is monitored. Good quality food at a fair price together with friendly staff, it’s no wonder the place was busy - recommended

Well traveled up from Devon to get a millionaire slice Very disappointed as they had changed it, the delicious Caramel now replaced with a fudge like filling also the chocolate is a lot thinner than before Definitely won’t be buying any more of those avoid all cakes now brownies not good either. Your better off visiting the Owl

No social distancing. No marks or gloves on the staff. Avoid avoid avoid. Limited cakes and the ones they have was stale. Not good

Want to say a massive thankyou for making our Christmas Day so special, you all went above and beyond . The food was amazing and the service was first class. Enough food for an Army , all so very delicious !!

Didn't book - arrived around 5pm. Waited ages to be served though restaurant empty. Ordered a 'Christmas special' mulled wine. Waitress snapped at me this was unavailable unless I was eating - I hadn't got as far as ordering eats! Then she barked "I don't make the rules." I felt belittled and unwelcome but undeterred, we ordered two 'Christmas special' milkshakes only to be told milkshakes were off as the machine broken down. At this point we left....... can only give 1 star as food and drink weren't sampled!!

Miss MouleThe staffs approach was very odd, really shouted through the mask in a ‘friendly’ but over rehearsed and very unnatural mannerOur order was also totally wrong but we had it anyway. We also noticed the table behinds order was wrong and was met with a ‘oh never mind’ response.The food and the decor were beautiful though. Just an almost uncomfortable service..

We have no complaints with the service or staff, unfortunately the food itself was a let down.We ordered two soups , a hog baggett and cheese on toast.The tomato and basil soup tasted like warmed up pasata sauce.The mixed veg soup was Luke warm ( they did however put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes for me)The cheese on toast (door steps) obviously hung about for a while prior to us getting it ,as the bread was very tough.The hog baggett was ok but to be fair , it would not be my choice again..Based on today's visit, I can't see us rushing to return.Good luck for 2021 and stay safe.

We enjoyed our afternoon tea immensely choosing the High Tea option, the extra, warm savouries being well worthwhile. Sandwiches, (four fillings), on the lowest tier; with staff checking if we wanted more; fruit and cheese scones with cream & jam on the middle, then four different cakes on the top. All were really tasty & filling. There is a choice of teas, coffee or hot chocolate, with again refills being offered. There is a discount for two people, plus a further discount if you have a Norfolk Passport card. The restaurant is Covid19 compliant, staff disinfecting tables after customers and wearing masks, with an effective one way system, but the atmosphere is still really enjoyable and you could take as long as you like over your food. We found all the staff friendly, efficient & helpful. Very clean toilets. One word of warning is as you leave don’t look at the cakes or pastries or you’ll come to a halt and buy some as they are lovely. Thank you all at Byfords, stay safe.

Great place for a pre-shopping lunch our as a quick pit stop to recharge the batteries. Lovely setting with friendly, helpful staff. Had a shared seafood platter which was very tasty and certainly assuaged our hunger pangs. Does get busy so I would recommend booking ahead.

This was our first time dining at Byfords but will definitely be back the next time we are back in Norfolk! There were quite a few family’s in the restaurant, which was really nice to see. The food was perfectly cooked & the service was exceptional, nothing was to much trouble & all the waitresses were super friendly! I’m not really a dessert person but my partner ordered the gelato plank & the raspberry sorbet was delicious, as were all the other icecreams & sorbets. Bonus that we also got a discount with our Norfolk passport.

We stayed two nights over October half term, with our two children on z-beds in our room. The room was very cosy and comfortable, with plenty of room for us all. The staff were all really friendly and helpful and the food was super.Such a relaxing break- we’ve loved Byfords for years and they haven’t failed to deliver again!

Delicious food, hard to choose as it’s all lovely with local produce used that is excellent quality. Have eaten breakfast, lunch, dinner and just coffee and cake here over the years we have visited whenever we been to North Norfolk, and have never been disappointed! The staff are friendly and give exceptional customer service. Cannot recommend Byfords enough!

We’ve visited Byfords many times and always complimented the staff, food and outstanding service but this was not the case on our most recent visit. We visited lunchtime on Sunday 25th, we booked ahead and I wish we hadn’t bothered, the staff were extremely rude, looked down their noses at us and the manor they spoke to us was atrocious. The food was average, it seemed rushed and the waitress on more than one occasion walked passed us and ignored the fact that we had finished and didn’t come over to clear our table, instead faffed around. We didn’t receive a breakdown of the food bill when we asked for one, instead a card machine was brought over, looking back we wish we demanded a breakdown but as we were so fed up and wanted to leave we paid and left and will not be in a hurry to return!! such a shame as this used to be a brilliant place to visit!!

Booked a table (def recommended) there's always a big queue outside for walk ins. Apart from having to wear a mask until seated, it really wasn't spoilt like some places are by the COVID restrictions. Felt safe, clean and sanitiser on entry. Staff good and breakfast was delicious. Recommend the kedgeree or the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Didn't feel rushed and we sat and drank tea until the rain stopped

Loved this place, popped in for a snack and £64 later......! It’s not a cheap option For lunch but we weren’t disappointed. Food was delicious, atmosphere (we were in the cellar) was cosy and staff were attentive but certainly not over bearing. There was no rush for us to leave our table hence we grazed and chatted and grazed some more.

We had dinner here on 13/10 as part of a two night package deal at Byfords which included dinner one night. The dinner was very disappointing compared to the excellent B&B offering which we experienced. (I have done a separate review for the B&B offering which was excellent with a 5 score). A very limited dinner menu (not sure if this is a Covid issue). We shared the seafood platter for 2 as a starter which was very poor and for mains my wife opted for the Half Roast Chicken and I opted for the King Prawn Curry. The chicken was over cooked and very dry and the accompanying corn on the cob was very hard and not very edible. My curry was relatively tasty but the presentation was pretty awful and the Nan Bread was overcooked and crunchy. We passed on a pudding. This was very disappointing because everything else at Byfords is excellent. The serving staff on the night were very good. We will gladly return here on a B&B package but will not take up the dinner option.

The thing which gets me about this place is that it doesn’t really have an identity. It’s very confusing as to what you really should be ordering when you go here. Is it a breakfast place? is it a cake specialist? Is it a deli? Is it afternoon tea? Is it a pizzeria? Is it a salad specialist? Is it an ice cream Sunday or cheesecake specialist? The worrying thing it’s all of them!...We wanted a dinner and found the extensively diverse menu quite confusing. However whenever we finally found the main dishes we ordered the rump steak (which came with a suet beef pudding, oven cooked not steamed), which was cooked well but just not the beat quality beef. My wife had the 1/2 chicken which was perfectly cooked it must be said. And there was plenty of meat on the bone.Let me finish off by saying that this restaurant isn’t average, it’s good, we couldn’t fault it, but it’s not very good… perfect for a family trip out, but this isn’t fine dining, it’s more convenient food. Service was ace though.

Regular couple at Byfords for dinner. Tried the chicken curry for a change, as well as the suet pudding dish. Both very much enjoyed. Both dishes seemed to be cooked fresh which was lovely and refreshing against most chain companies nowadays. Portion sizes were plentiful but not overwhelming. Presentation was 5* , definitely able to eat with your eyes. Dinner is consistently good, and one of the few restaurant/cafes in north norfolk whose meals reflect the prices. Thankyou again!

We had lunch in this very attractive establishment. The food was average-to-good, service was fine, but the pricing was a bit over the top.

DisappointingHeard a lot about this restaurant \cafe with rooms, we only popped in for lunch but were left wondering what the hype is about.Signage is not clear, there is one queue, be it for takeaway or to eat in, when we got to the front of the takeaway queue we moved to the eat in. Here with the Covid 19 QR code we checked in, but also asked for name and phone numbers, other clients only asked to use the QR codes, why bother or is it a lack of understanding.Shown to a table and given wipe clean menus, I went for the steak ciabatta, which turned out to be a sliced roast beef and onion one. This was extremely disappointing. My partner had the fish finger wrap which was acceptable. Good tea though!Clear evidence of wipe down of all surfaces, including all of the chairs in booths.Staff were fairly mixed, one of the waiting staff friendly and helpful another gave the impression everything was too much trouble.So some good elements some less so, so overall average

Booked in for breakfast before going on railway to Sheringham Service was good. Food very tasty and well presented . Good one way system

Always visit Byfords when in Holt but will look elsewhere now. Looks great from the outside and buzzing but Food just not good anymore. Service is slack and a long wait even when half full. Also overpriced. Example: omelette ordered and it came on its own looking like a frisby thrown on a plate not even a hint of a garnish, flat and unattractive. One of those places where once you order taken staff avoid eye contact as they know it will take ages before your drinks arrive (coke from a mixer!) followed by below par food. Sorry but should be much much better!

I have been going here for many years. I know they charge more for their cakes, pasties etc but we used to get value for money. Today I bought the salmon quiche and instead of being deep filled it is flat as a pancake! I also regularly purchase the carrot cake which has again been reduced in size! They prices are still expensive but less food. I definitely will not be returning. Only go if you have more money then sense and are ready to be ripped off.It is really sad that well established companies like this think us customers will not notice!!

Have been visiting Byfords for YEARS! and have noticed a decline in all aspects of the business over the last couple of years and visit at the weekend really felt let down. The Menu has not changed for as long as I can remember and having a vegan in the party the vegan "menu" was extremely lacking maybe - 3 options or a pizza without cheese! I mean really it is not hard to adapt nearly all the veggie options to create simple effective vegan food. Then on trying to order cake we were given the menus not told about the many options which unavailable, so on trying to order 3 options not available, and no dietary information on the cakes half the party gave up on cakes. The quality of the food is good but the lazy menus make me feel like they are coasting on the past success.

Staying for two nights at Byfords, we had two breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner. The service, quality and quantity of the food was outstanding. Lovely friendly staff, freshly cooked food, great choice (especially for the gluten-free one of us), reasonable prices for the exceptional quality of the food, fair priced wine, well socially distanced tables.A truly lovely place.

A large group of us decided to take a full Byfords breakfast here to make the end of our fabulous week's holiday in North Norfolk. Just perfect. The menu/choice...the food...the setting...all just perfect. Perhaps the only problem was getting a table - as no bookings were able to be taken & priority went to the Byfords B&B guests. So there was a 45' wait - however, these are strange times and it was well worth the wait. Excelelnt attention to sanitizing and Covid hygiene. Would definitely recommend.

Stopped off on way through Holt as a friend said it was an excellent cafe. They weren’t wrong. Service was very good, friendly staff. Excellent coffee and amazing cinnamon roll. Will definitely visit next time I’m in Holt.

Proper kippers from Cley and full English. If you're staying in Kings Head this is where you go for breakfast. Sympathetic restoration of old building. Nice friendly staff

We had accommodation at a local pub which didn’t provide breakfast. It was included in our booking and we were given vouchers for breakfast at Byfords. What a treat. The building has been beautifully restored and modernised. The choice for breakfast was really varied and all freshly prepared. Personally I recommend the poached egg with avocado but we enjoyed something different each morning. Staff were friendly and well organised. Highly recommended!

Despite growing up in North Norfolk I’ve never visited Byfords until now and I’ve realised what I’ve been missing. We enjoyed ourselves so much we came back two nights later.A wonderful selection of foods, particularly the pizzas, and excellent service. If I’d had more time I’d have come back and tried their lunch menu - perhaps for my next visit.If you’re passing Holt this place is a must

On holiday in Norfolk, stopped at Holt for lunch.Husband had a chicken, bacon & mushroom pasty, mashed potatoes, cabbage & gravy & said he enjoyed it.I had Posh Cheese on Toast which came with a lovely mixed salad, spicy apple & sultana chutney - the cheese in toast was disappointing- I expected cheese that was lovely & brown on top but it was a lump of cheese on bread, put under the grill so the cheese was slightly melted - not enjoyable.I did complain & they were lovely about it, very gracious & even gave us chocolate brownies to take home.The tea was really good & strong & one pot gave 8 cups !We would definitely go back.

Arrived today at about 1pm, admittedly we had no booking, stood in a queue outside to be greeted by a very pleasant lady, we asked for a table, she said there is a small waiting time, we waited 10 minutes, we waited another 10 minutes, and another 10 minutes, we were told tables are now becoming available, no we still did not get a table. We were told people are now paying it won’t be long, still no table, another 10 minutes went by.By this point we had waited an hour. I said to the lady we have waited long enough we will go. All of a sudden a table was immediately available. The annoying thing was when we were actually seated there was lots of tables that were not even occupied, Had we been advised there was a long wait we would not have waited,There surely needs to be a better system available.

We've been here loads of times over the years and always had a hit/miss experience. We came twice in one week. First time it was fine, seated far away from other guests however they do still try and cram you in. When we were waiting for our bill they filled the table directly next to us so we got up and stood to wait so we weren't too close. Food was good, came quickly but service is just slow. Came back again later in the week for breakfast. The menu is really confusing we booked for half 11 and it says breakfast/brunch till 11:30 and then lunch at 12 so we didn't know what we could order, pointed it out to waitress who also agreed its very confusing. This time round though we were a little too close to people started to make me feel quite uncomfortable. Got our tea drink wrong, ordered a green tea and a black tea came only minor issues. It just seems so hyped up, food was great and service was ok but the one way system doesn't work because you have to go past the queue to get back to your table. I would probably go back but just for a drink and definitely pre book!

I expect the menu confuses some people but we had the seafood platter to share and a couple of small dishes. The food was excellent, they sell their own IPA which is good and the wine is reasonable. They also make very nice coffee which you'd expect in a restaurant. All appropriately safety conscious, spacious and enjoyable. Thanks.

Visited for afternoon tea. Our very specific dietary requirements were noted when booked and fully taken care of. Food tasted very fresh and neatly presented. Covid restrictions observed with lots of signs. Staff pleasant and professional. Very clean. Well done.

if you like raw chicken and pack mix cake come to byfords . we were in group and we had roast chicken was raw also a lot of the cakes are not home made but from a pack

Sadly the food at this well established cate/restaurant/ b&b does not live up to it’s supposedly good reputation.We booked because it had a separate gluten free menu for 2 out of our four guests but several items had a biro line through them and so were permanently unavailable, the food was very mediocre at best of what we did experience and we certainly will not return

For the final day of ‘Eat Out to Help Out’, I attended with my grandparents. We were greeted by friendly staff who were very compliant to COVID guidelines, and we also noticed Byfords’ one-way system, which was tricky at times but that’s simply due to the layout of the restaurant which can’t be helped. We all ordered the large steak and chip salad; and whilst the steak was cooked very well; for a large, we expected more meat than a small, rather than more salad, considering the price difference. However, we did sort of understand that this is a ‘posh’ restaurant, which usually do focus on aesthetics rather than portion-sizes. To top the food off, we had Byfords’ legendary hot chocolate, which was very nice, although sweeter than usual. All in all, a good meal but next time more meat and less leaves please!

Tasty food and good service. Three of us dined early evening. Half roast chicken was excellent and the two pizzas were just as good. Would certainly consider returning.

Went for for dinner and the place is very quirky as you go in and not a straight forward restaurant layout so there are secluded alcoves to sit in and chat in private if you wish and other tables more out in the open.The menu is not that extensive and what is on offer is expensive for what you get and although I enjoyed what I ate did not think half a small chicken and some skinny chips was worth £17 and left with the view that this place caters for those that wish to pay more for somewhere that appears to be the in place in Holt rather than the actual food although could not complain about the quality.I have to say the service was very good and the staff were most peasant and friendly and keen to please.I would advise against the house white which is going to pull your lips back over your teeth as you have a sharp intake of breath and also avoid the house rose which is more akin to drinking a glass of strawberry coloured sugar syrup and so sickly sweet to make it undrinkable but their own brand Byfords lager is excellent..

Excellent family lunch, lovely food and service, highly recommend. We would have loved to go back for dinner but sadly our last day, next time for sure.