The Aldborough Black Boys in North Norfolk

What a lucky find when we decided at the last minute to go out for a meal and found coastal places had tables available only at very early times. Piece of luck for us as we looked inland instead and went to Aldborough. The new owners at what we knew as the Black Boys deserve all the success they can get as they have obviously put their hearts and souls into creating a very welcoming pub which does not follow the example of many gastropubs in no longer welcoming regular drinkers. Not that we went there for just a drink but for dinner too and the food was delicious, with very generous portions. We will be back and will suggest to our holiday guests that they give it a try too.

Found the food menu interesting, but the execution of these dishes was very poor. Smoked Mackerel pate was tasteless, contained fish bones, a defrosted solid mass. Chicken Satay was big lumps & tasteless. Crab Linguine was dry (no sauce) & tasteless. Steak ok, but asparagus in pancetta overcooked. Overall a huge disappointment.

Fantastic pub, friendly and welcoming staff, great beer and absolutely delicious food. We visited on a Sunday and had the pleasure of trying the roast dinner. I had pork and my wife beef. Everything was excellent generous portions, all freshly cooked and as good a roast dinner than I’ve had out anywhere before. Highly recommended and we will be back!

So lucky to have this pub as our local. Just back from a lovely evening with friends. Food exceptional, staff very friendly and helpful. If you haven’t been yet you should. The landlord and landlady Kent and Julie make it a very enjoyable experience. Julie and Andy

Had a lovely night out with family music was fab great vibes will be coming back to the cricketers arms Again very soon in the summer

Delicious Food, Attentive and lovely staff Kent takes care of his Ale like a Pro and Julie’s warm smile and attention to detail is second to none Ginge and Julie 2 are fabulous Bar wenches too Well worth a visit ♥️ And if you’re lucky you might get a free piece of cheesecake on a Sunday

Have spent the weekend in Aldborough and ate in the pub Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Both meals were lovely and great value. Super pub under super friendly ownership and lovely staff. Made us feel very welcome and especially our dog. Have always enjoyed this pub on our visits to this area and so pleased it has survived and hopefully thriving after all the covid problems the industry has faced. Can't wait to return again..

Brilliant Sunday Roast Roast.Nice feeling when you enter the Pub. Great service all round.Will be going back.

Can’t speak highly enough of our meal on a busy Friday night. The pub is warm and welcoming , with some lovely touches including a real fire . The food was delicious - generous starters and beautifully cooked and presented mains. Hoping we’ll find space for desserts another time!

We booked for a late Sunday lunch on Easter Sunday and it was the best roast I think I’ve ever had (and we eat out lots). The only disappointment was 2 of the 3 starters were sold out, so only 2 out of 6 of us had starter, but it wasn’t a big deal as the roast was large and so delicious. We couldn’t manage desserts. The white wine was also super-drinkable. We’d never been to Aldborough before, not sure why, but we’ll definitely be going again!

We went for a meal and we were not disappointed. Kent, Julie and Sarah made us most welcome. The food was excellent, tasty, hot and adequate portions. We even squeezed in a desert. Live music was on as well and not to loud making it a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Definitely will be back!

Well worth the visit to this cozy little pub. The meal was excellent, the staff were friendly and efficient. It's a shame we are not more local as we would be regulars.

What a fantastic Mother’s Day lunch. So much going for it. Delightful food, a relaxed atmosphere, background music but without it being intrusive, fire roaring. Lovely furniture too. The staff are so accommodating and more importantly it’s very reasonably priced . A wonderful experience.

First time here and certainly won't be our last!! Warm and friendly atmosphere and great and attentive customer service made to feel very welcome at all times. The food was impeccable and very generous portion sizes. Will definitely be recommending to family and friends and we can't wait to return and bring the dogs as its a dog friendly pub too! Lovely roaring fire which was a massive plus. Thank you so much for a fantastic evening ☺

A rare child free break brought us here to take a walk down memory lane. After living here as a small child and having fond memories of the area we decided to pop in for some lunch. The staff were warm and welcoming and the food was beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will definitely come back again in the future. Thank you

Booked a table for 2 for Sunday lunch I had roast lamb and my partner had roast beef it was absolutely delicious with the amazing selection of veg including cauliflower cheese. Staff so friendly and welcoming too ….. definitely be back very soon and highly...

Visited for Sunday lunch. Fabulous welcome. Really accommodating and family friendly. Food was great. Lovely cosy atmosphere. Will definitely return.

What a wonderful evening! Four of us (with Labs) spent a glorious evening at Aldebourgh Black Boys… the starters, main courses, puddings and drinks were all really exceptional! The chef really pulls out the stops here, and the landlord and landlady friendly and welcoming. 10...

Fabulous lunch today, sea bass and game pie were delish, thanks BB for looking after the 5 of us we all really enjoyed it 👍👍

After a walk on a cold January day called in to see if they done tea and coffee to warm us up.Got a friendly welcome and were served buy a lovely lady with black hair and glasses.The coffee warmed us up and we will be...

For a cosy country pub with a big log burner the burns all night. I was very happy to find a band sat round a table playing folk music, and a pub full of happy people singing along. The landlady is a great host, her...

Excellent Sunday lunch today. Food was delicious and the staff were all so efficient and friendly. Will definitely visit again.

We received a very warm welcome from the staff when we arrived and we felt very relaxed. We had the VIP seats. The menu was new and exciting and the staff handled my dietary requirements with knowledge and sensitivity. The food was delicious and the...

Came here twice now for lunch both times have been superb!!!! Roast lunch was absolutely amazing and yesterday bar snacks were absolutely gorgeous worth every penny to visit here reasonably priced and a great service …. 5 star recommendation from us ❤️

A group of 23 of us were staying locally in Bessingham for a weekend away at New Years. We booked a meal at the Black Boys for the 29th as it was walking distance from where we were staying. In terms of the booking process...

Lovely and friendly country pub. Great service (especially Emily who did a fantastic job of looking after our party of 17) and very good food. Highly recommended. Apparently the new owners only took over a couple of weeks ago and seem to have it nailed.

We had really delicious starters and extremely good main courses. I was delighted that there were good vegan options in both courses for one of my son’s. We were also here for a meal with friends earlier in December and feel this is very good...

Second meal here within as many weeks, not disappointed on either visit. A good menu which covers most tastes, relaxed atmosphere and very friendly attentive staff. Well worth trying.

I was given a tip off from a friend about this place and OMG we wasn’t disappointed We can quite honestly say that it was the best Roast Dinner we have ever had, it was full of flavour and they wasn’t shy on the portions...

We went for Sunday lunch and we were not disappointed. Well presented and plenty of it. Think it's one of best roasts we've had. The parsnip crisps were a nice touch and cauliflower cheese mouth watering.😋

What a treat this pub was. The welcome was warm and the service excellent. Booked for Sunday lunch and our dogs were made very welcome in the bar area. It is by far the best Sunday dinner I have had in a pub, the roast...

What a little gem this pub is...friendly staff and locals.we ate there too.homemade steak and ale pie with mash and fresh veggies..pies made by the landlady.i can honestly say it was the best pie I've ever eaten, plenty of melt in the mouth succulent steak...

Great village pub. Had the steak and Stilton homemade pie; it didn’t disappoint! Well appointed pub on a fabulous village green. Very friendly staff, genuine home cooked food. Pubs must have been like this years ago; altogether charming.

Went to Black Boys last night for an early Christmas dinner. Atmosphere in the bar (with wood burner) was welcoming and cosy. Dinner could not have been tastier, better prepared or greater value, £24.95 for thee ample corses. If you can fit a visit in...

Lovely village pub, food and service both excellent. So friendly and made to feel very welcome. Definitely recommend a visit.

Spotlesslyclean everywhere. Chef cooked my food exactly as requested, unbelievable. Dog friendly, all were beautifully behaved . Staff very friendly and listened to you. Very reasonably priced. Why have I not been here before? Very fresh salad, crisp and unadorned. We will be back.

Had a good lunch in this lovely rural location accompanied by our dogs too. Pub continues to have a lovely ambiance and simply feels welcoming and comfortable. Enjoyed a really good steak and ale "proper" pie (encased all round in pastry!) proper chips and suitably...

Went several times whilst on holiday. We were made to feel very welcome on each visit. Had a meal and the food was excellent and freshly cook. The service was also really friendly. Would highly recommend.

We were out on a bike ride from Deers Glade campsite to Holt and went through Aldborough on our way through. The weather had been bad and to come across a cricket match on the village green with the pub overlooking the match was a...

We came to stay in Aldborough and pre-booked for Wednesday evening - we were not disappointed. Not only were the staff so friendly and welcoming - the food was amazing, home cooked and the pie was gorgeous. It's a lovely setting on the village green...

We were staying nearby and decided to have a meal here. The pub is in a lovely setting on the village green in the village of Aldborough and is a nice typical village pub. The menu was good and well thought out in these difficult...

We visited the Black Boys while staying at the nearby Church Farm Barns. The pub is set on a beautiful village green. The weather was lovely and we chose to sit outside. The staff were very helpful and COVID measures were all in place. The...

Open during lockdown with very reasonable priced filled rolls available during the afternoons. Plenty of quiet lanes lead to the pub on the edge of the village green meant that we visited theee times in the week. Nice hosts.

We were a large group which took over the Black Boys for the whole evening. Socially distanced, the staff coped with the numbers really well. We all had fish and chips, some with mushy peas and some with ordinary peas and it was all very...

Back to the Black Boys post lockdown and was really impressed by the quality of the food. They have nailed the whole cleaning, handling, ordering process in this new age but it didn't feel awkward and certainly didnt lessen our enjoyment of the meal. Definately...

Meal was excellent with a good choice on menu. Friendly and efficient service. Enjoyable experience after a walk in the area.

Fancied a change from home cooking and our local Gastropoda so decided to revisit, after some 15 years, the Aldborough Black Boys.Overall, very pleasant couple of hours and very reasonably priced.Awide menu of good pub fare, burgers, pies fish and chips with a few daily specials.The food was fine, my husbands fish pie was served with a large helping of new potatoes on the side as well as a selection of fresh veg, bit of a carb overload but he managed.My pork and apple burger with sweet potato fries and Cole slaw was good too although one patty rather than two would have sufficed.The pub was quite busy with a jolly end of week atmosphere and the staff friendly and welcoming.The only , slight downside was that after finishing the drinks we ordered on arrival we weren’t invited to order more.Im no fan of up selling, as seen in certain chain restaurants but felt the pub missed a trick by not being more attentive around drinks.

Absolutely delicious, and loads of it! The two main things I need for my roast. I am vegetarian and can recommend the nut roast, so tasty and my son and husband are meat eaters and love the meat. You get a Yorkshire no matter what and a big bowl of cauliflower cheese. Thankyou

Since the pub has re-opened it really has turned in to a lovely village pub. Lots of locals and tourists visit there and we pop along a couple of times a week! The food is great and just what you would expect from a traditional English pub!

I went to the aldborough black boys for Sunday lunch with my friend and granddaughter. when we went in the staff made us so welcome .and the food was 10 out 10 and I have taken more friends. iam going back for my daughter birthday mial the cheesecake was out off this world

Went with friends and family for Sunday lunch, my friend went for the “specials” reckons it was the best Steak and Kidney pie he’s ever had. Staff very friendly and welcoming.

Great to see this village pub under new management and serving excellent home cooked food at a reasonable price. Good beers and a lovely rose wine on offer. Staff friendly & helpful, what more could you want locally?

We visited here on a week day lunch expecting a good meal in a nice pub, the setting is great overlooking the village green, there is no parking at the pub so you need to park on the side of the road.We told they were serving food and to take a seat with our drinks, the waitress broght the menus. I informed the waitress that i was gluten free, and she said they were marked on the menu.I ordered the Shepherds pie (gluten free), my wife ordered the pie of the day, minced beef and onion. After 10 minutes the waitress returned to say that the shepherds pie was a mistake on the menu and not gluten free. She asked me to choose something else, there was only the standard ham egg and chips so that is what i ordered. Another 10 minutes pass the waitress returns, there are no minceded beef pies left and the new pie of the day is steak and ale, my wife was happy with the change and so we waited for the food to arrive. My ham egg and chips arrived with two fried eggs on the ham and large chunky chips. The eggs were both hard and the chips were over cooked and dried out. My wifes pie was well presented with a jug of gravy and dish with the days vegetables. The pie however was very dry, just chunks of steak no sauce in the pie at all.So very disappointing food. With the people running the pub being frome the foundry arms at Nothrepps were were expecting great things, the food there has always been good.The bar had a selection of beers, and the beer i had was good. There were some regular lunch time drinkers in the bar who were using a lot of bad language, not just your normal swear words either, so just be warned if you are with children or easily offended it is not for you.We will not return to the pub again, some friends also had a poor experience earlier the same week, we found out later.

Me and a friend, went in The Black Boys Pub, yesterday (July 16th), while on an afternoon bike ride, I enjoyed a glass of Orange Juice and a packet of Cheese and Onion Crisps, my friend enjoyed a glass of Sparkling Apple Juice and a packet of Salt and Vinegar Crisps, I enjoyed the old music (Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Chubby Checker, Del Shannon, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson and The Everly Brothers), which was being played in the Pub, the staff were very friendly, I will definitely visit The Black Boys Pub, again, in the future.

Great food and friendly staff. The cottage pie,cod and chips were excellent as was the creamy rice pudding.great value and generous portions,look forward to eating there again soon

We visit North Norfolk quite often but had never been to this pub before however we will be visiting again. Our friends live in Aldborough so suggested meeting up at their local for something to eat. We had a lovely evening - delicious food and drink, friendly service, a nice clean pub and great company.

A great service and excellent value just needed a few more customers to really make it the place to go but that will come with time ,the pies are superb will be back.

Great to see this pub under new management and on the up. Stopped for an impromptu dinner with the children (1st visit since reopening) and immediately felt comfortable. The bar is welcoming with a really good selection of beers that are kept well. There were lots of tables reserved but the lovely staff showed us to a table close to the wood burner. The food is unpretentious, honest pub food well presented and tasty. Portions are a good size and good value. We left with all plates clean and having had a very enjoyable evening. A proper pub, and one we'll be back to..... Lots.

What a find .We recently had a wake at the Black Boys after a funeral in the local church .Can only say the place ,the food and the welcome were brilliant .Genuine delicious homemade food .way exceeded our expectations . Some of us stayed on for supper which was first class .The beers perfect .This is a gem which we will definitely use again .The pub is a real asset to aAlborough and they deserve plenty of support .

Lovely vegan nut roast and chicken Sunday Lunch with all trimmings at reasonable £10.95 price. Beautifully cooked. Even vegan gravy on offer.

But felt so uncomfortable, place was cold and very bare as if been refurbished and no character replaced so quickly drunk up and move in for lunch very disappointing as like to see local pubs survive.

We had a lovely Sunday lunch at the recently refurbished Black Boys pub. We just went in for a drink but couldn't resist the lunch when we saw some being served. The warm welcome and good service were enjoyed by everyone there - the pub was busy and the atmosphere was just right. We couldn't stay for the live music today but we will be back!

Visited this establishment on a Sunday lunchtime, went through the open door and could see half a dozen or so people stood around the bar with drinks in front of them. A chap in a wheelchair who I understand to be the landlord blocked our way in said conveyance and told us that the pub was closed and had been for the past seven weeks. Very odd.

Beer is excellent! As for the owner, it's a different story. He goes around in his wheelchair, drinking alot. He shouts and swears at anyone that talks to him and I'm pretty sure he uses the bottom of the stairs as his toilet. I for one will not be returning to this pub- although staff are friendly they clearly have to put up with him daily.

Booking advisable fabulous meal excellent value for money and friendly service. Returned in the afternoon for coffee after completing the Queen Maker at Blickling Church. A thoroughly good day out.

Brilliant night, lovely village pub. Not on the main road, but worth a visit. Friday is fish and chips and a roast on a Sunday. Lovely food 😁

Local village pub( not far from the A140 Cromer Rd ) trying really hard to become a community hub . Food at the weekends only but excellent value , quality fish and chips , scampi , sausage - and a roast on Sundays . Regular entertainment from jazz to heavy rock and lots in between .