The Gardeners Arms /Murderers pub in Norwich

The barman was friendly and chatty with some banter, some of the tables were sticky from previous spilt beer and not been wiped, moved 3 times before finding a clean table. However it's a pub and the staff were busy I guess but unfortunately the dinner I had was the worst roast dinner I have ever been served. The Yorkshire was doughy in the middle and burnt on the outside , the sausages wrapped in bacon and stuffing balls were undercooked for my liking and annoying that you have to pay extra for these, I feel they should come with your roast as norm. My main complaint, as I love veg, was that the parsnips and carrots were raw (and huge), perhaps try cutting them smaller and cooking a little longer, I don't mind ,"al Dante", in fact I hate soggy veg but these were a joke, I couldn't even get a knife through them! it was sent back and 5 minutes later after being put in a microwave and quite frankly still hard to cut through, even with a steak knife that the waiter produced the second time. My dinner was not even replaced with a fresh plate of food, merely all just put in the microwave, the only thing I got was another pot of gravy which was watery and tasteless. The waiter, whom I did like, commented something about hoping that my teeth could cope with the veg now? I told him they were still too hard and he offered to get me something else to eat but I told him to leave it as my son and husband had finished eating by now. I ate a couple of roast potatoes and a bit of chicken. My son left all his vegetables too. My husbands pulled pork burger was ok. For me I wouldn't eat here again..for £67 not worth it. Had I not already paid I wouldn't have payed for this one meal, and had I been on my own I would have requested a refund but it was a couple of hours we had come down to see our son and I didn't want to cause more fuss.

Decent pub with great value food. I had beef chilli cups as a snack for less lhan £5 and struggled to eat it all. Really friendly and lots of sport on rv

Burger was claimed to be homemade, was dry, tasteless and too much grizzle parks mixed throughout, when I mentioned to waiter about it, it was a very quick sorry and left

Very disappointed in the food. Ordered a simple cheese sandwich and a cheese and tomato sandwich - quite expensive and received simple' sandwiches. Bread was dry - cheese was thinly sliced and warm. Looked just what you would make at home with 'normal' bread Complained but received no interest in my complaint! I'm sorry but I won't come back to eat again.

Popped in at lunch time today after hearing the pub mentioned so much on Jaack's Happy Hour. Was worried it would be a nightmare with my 2.5 year old but was determined to have a drink there just to say I had. I was PLEASANTLY surprised to find the pub so chill inside, staff were lovely and the atmosphere was just nice. Sat down with our drinks and decided to order food too, and it was the best food I've had out for a long time. The burger meat was so tasty, everything was just great. Would absolutely recommend a trip if you're around.

Lunchtime drop in. Not busy. In house cider very nice. Waited quite a while for ‘mixed vegetable soup’ order. Looked and tasted like a jar of strong passata. Dry bread. Asked for butter. Was told they’d run out.

This used to be my favourite pub in Norwich back in the early 80’s when I used to visit a friend who was at UEA at the time. Not only because it was a forerunner for real ale back then, but also because visits were with a level of jeopardy as the landlord and his cronies didn’t like students. Well, first time back in the best part of 40 years and fortunately a lot more inclusive from my remembrances ( it looked like students were even working the bar , I thought it was still a thoroughly good pub. The front section houses the main bar that accommodates vertical drinking and then off this to the left is a collection of seating areas separated by exposed beams of some age with a fair few nooks and crannies to hide yourself away in. And it’s not until you get to the larger room at the back that it opens out into one large space. This section is dominated by large flat screens and surround sound for the sport and is where most people interested in the football position themselves. I think they also have live bands in this section. Back in the 80’s, as well as being dual named (as it still is today) it was also famous for having a double sided pub sign with an innocent looking gardener chap on the side as you walk up the hill, and then a sinister dark figure on the other side depicting the name the pub takes from the incident that took place in the pub in 1895. Sadly that seems to have disappeared and the pub is currently sign less from what I could see. One thing that is unchanged from my remembrances, and is probably enhanced is the collection of famous murderers that adorn all the walls and surfaces and quite a few I remember are still in situ, but now including many others such as a photo of Reg and Ronnie Cray, which is apt as they owned a house in nearby Attleborough during their reign of terror and Ronnie actually passed away in a hotel in Norwich, nor far from this pub. Another thing that seems unchanged is a focus on real ale and the bar supports 12 handpumps and 11 were on the go for my visit with nine ales and two ciders available. On the ale front seven were from East Anglia in the form of three from the nearby Wolf Brewery ( Murderers Ale, Silver Fox and Edith Cavell ), Grain Brewery Chevallier 47 , Beccles Brewery Sky PA , Mr Winters Vanilla Latte Stout, and Adnams Ghost Ship. Then from further afield there was Parkway Brewing Co. Pirates Pet and Listers Springtime. I went for the Mr Winters Vanilla Latte Stout and very good it was too. I wanted to like this pub again, and I did, in spades…

My friend and I visited on a Saturday evening for drinks and again on Sunday afternoon for drinks and to watch the football. The pub is in an excellent location, right in the centre of Norwich. The staff were all very friendly. The interior decor and atmosphere is really nice - proper old school pub feel. They had the football showing on several screens including a large one in the main room. Great variety of drinks available at the bar including some local stuff. Highly recommend a visit here if you are in the area.

Busy city centre pub with an interesting history, well staffed, good menu, good selection of ales and drinks. Well worth a visit.

An excellent pub for a weekend away lunch. We were tired from roaming the Christmas crush filled shopping streets of Norwich and found this pleasant escape. The staff were all brilliantly friendly and efficient. The food was plentiful and tasty. I would certainly recommend it

Popped in for a quick early lunch. I ordered a full English breakfast, wife went for beef chilli nachos. My choice was really good (for some reason sprinkled with pea shoots - odd) and a decent size. The nachos were awful; everything was plonked on...

Great building. Great ale. Great team. Really impressed. Great choice of cask ale. Well looked after. Perfect temperature. Fairly priced Food was really well priced. Freshly cooked and very tasty.

What great pub, someone Dereham recommended it to us so we decided to visit. As a beer lover there was an impressive number of Hand pulls with a great selection of beers to try, they even had a ‘beer tapas’ on offer. I settled for...

We were greeted with smiles and pleasantries on arrival. The staff are warm and friendly and couldn’t be more helpful. I had a small issue with my meal but it was rectified immediately and given a complimentary glass of wine too. I had enjoyed this...

Ordered a full English breakfast when it came I noticed the poached egg it was just a pile of egg white and a spoonful off hard egg. I took it straight back to the bar and was told by A man behind the bar well...

Seemed to be a nice friendly pub. Good selection of beers that all seemed to be well kept. Staff were friendly, didn’t eat here and lots of nice outdoor seating area.

We went to the gardeners arms/murderers on 11 July for dinner this place has gone to the dogs now we had 2 brunchs and everything had been re-heated that much it was dry and horrible,a chicken bacon cheese with b b q sauce burger which...

Absolutely great pub, lovely staff good atmosphere, only thing to note was bad Wi-Fi, but that wasn’t too bad honestly

The murderers is a great pub, we have used it many times & today decided to eat there. It was a poor choice & not one we will make again. The Fish & chips were awful. The chips were dry, oven cooked & far from...

We popped in for an impromptu lunch. We mainly ended up here as most places we had tried previously had a no dogs policy. This pub is dog friendly. Staff were welcoming, friendly and efficient. Menu for food was typical pub fare, including burgers etc....

Firstly - I can't say much about the food as it is a long time since we ate here. But if ale is your thing, this is the best in Norfolk. Beer is nearly always flat and lifeless in Norfolk, even at the renowned 'Flat...

Busy pub showing lots of sport but don’t waste your money on the food. £14.95 for a rock hard dried out pie with cold peas and cheap frozen oven chips.

I enjoyed visiting this pub, great vibes, good drinks and lovely staff! Authentically British and would definitely visit again.

The Murderers is about a 500m walk from my workplace and me and other workmates love the place - a cosy, different, pub with great ales on tap, right next to Wetherspoons, just brilliant. I've never been one to 'boycott', and I wouldn't even call...

Really enjoyed visiting this pub. Beautiful building and great selection of ales and ciders. Will visit again

Lully pub just had a couple of drinks very warm welcome very quaint inside food looked tasty but had a restaurant booked else where will return to try the food

The visit felt we had been transported back in time with an interior that is unusual or eclectic and contains charred wooden beams that must have been charred before being put into place as decoration. Not to our taste to be honest. Anyhow, beer as...

Never had service like it l, it was incredible. Would have rated it 10 stars if the Internet was a little faster

One can sound a bit of a beer snob if you go on too much. So, suffice to say: good location, lovely building, a really excellent choice of beers on tap and some knowledgeable and helpful staff. As three old men visiting Norwich we were...

Me and my mates:Robbie,Jaack and Stevie felt scared going out anywhere due to Covid. But visiting this pub, has made us very comfortable, a crap ton of disinfectant and stuff like that, been going and drinking beers at this fine establishment every day now. Lovely...

really great place, lovely owners. would definitely recommend. good atomosphere, especially during sports events. viva la happy hour x

This used to be my local pub as a student at UEA, i recently returned and it did not disappoint. Amazing atmosphere, wonderful staff and great variety of drinks. I bought my maate for the first time and they also loved it, well worth a...

One of the best pubs I’ve been too, great atmosphere, staff are very friendly and nice to feel safe with all the COVID rules that have been implemented!! 10/10 would highly recommend!!

Geeza, absolutely love this place. Love the fact that you need to have a negative test. Me and my Maates loved it.

Maate had a class night in this pub with my mates, jaack, robbie and stevie. 100% recommended this place, best atmosphere and feel especially safe with the covid rules is place.

Had an absolutely wonderful time. Would 100% recommend to anyone, great stance with COVID. Very tasty beer.

Jaackmate’s happy hour sent me here❤️ I think the covid rules you’ve put in place are brilliant and if I’m ever in Norwich I will 100% be visiting

great pub, staff are amazing and thankfully covid responsible too. all they need is a Happy Hour and it would be perfect 😂😁

Would have gave it a 5 star but unfortunately I think you still have dial up internet. Sort it out, Blueyonder is soooo 1999. Trying to listen to the Happy hour podcast here Stevie White White White (Slaphead)

Came for an hour with my friends Jack Stevie and Robbie! Such a happy hour! Would be more than happy to come again!

Came here with a few of my mates to watch the footy and was not disappointed, owner was very welcoming and kind which you can see translated into the overall mood of the pub which I spent a good hour in

Great range of beers, atmosphere was 10/10 and the staff so lovely and kind. They couldn’t have been more pleasant. Will definitely be back more

What I liked the most was the fact they take COVID very seriously, that's the most important thing for me. The Shandy Bass' were to die for, proper wet the whistle they did. The people in there were so friendly too, met a lovely couple...

sick lad, nice beer enjoying my stay in Norwich will deffo find time to come back as it’s quality ,.

Coming here truly was my happiest hour of the week. Staff and owner clearly care for customers safety and well-being and it pays for a very lovely evening indeed.

Came here with my mate skinned Tom and we absolutely loved it! It was one of the happiest hours of my week

Great atmosphere. I was absolutely Knoxed off my feet by the great service. The White interior is beautiful. Me and my Maate's had a great time.

Great service from friendly staff. Always a laugh with great drinks and food. In the city centre so there’s always something near by.

Good night out Respect the owners for the double vaccine entry only. Feel very safe there with my mates!! Also great place to watch the euros ;)

Best pub I’ve ever been to…….. sensational just wow, the seats were comfortable and my bum was happy

Our experience was fantastic despite recent reviews. Greeted by the owner who was very accommodating and made us feel very welcome. Showed live sport which was great for me and my party. Will be going back soon!

Came for a couple of pints with my mates Jack, Stevie and Robbie, we all felt very safe due to the covid rules in place. Great atmosphere and a good selection of beers.

Great service, great atmosphere! Felt very safe on one of my first times out due to covid, the owners stance on covid rules made me feel incredibly at ease and able to enjoy my evening!

Approached here on Saturday 7th 5pm, and was told by the short bald headed security guy on the door wear your mask to the table, if you don`t have a mask you cant come in, when we asked do we really have to wear a...

Amazing service, amazing atmosphere and excellent COVID policies. For a city that has loads of pubs and night life the murderers vastly stands out and as evidently well received amongst the community and tourists such as myself. It’s refreshing coming from a Londoner!!

Amazing. Think it's great that they are enforcing the vaccine/Negative test rule because we really need to be locking down on these things now. The owner is lovely, and the place is a great atmosphere. Only slight negative is slow internet, but all in all,...

Lovely, comfortable pub with friendly staff and good food. So nice to be out somewhere and to feel safe and secure after so many months of uncertainty, I applaud the landlord for his stance on covid, my husband and I definitely appreciated knowing we were...

Very poor WiFi Stevie really wasn’t happy with this during our visit watching the euros. Will go back as we don’t know any better.

Great service and atmosphere highly recommended. Staff were spot on and very pleasant stella was a belta Be back here again

Lovely pub serving a full menu, incredibly friendly staff who go out of there way to help, definitely worth a visit if your in the area.

Terrible place. Crap food and a low class establishment, Don't waste your time in this dive. Only been twice but never again. 😡

Drinks were okay, but the place is tired and had to wait ages to be served even though it was practically empty.

great pub and some nice staff but after 7 drinks each and its 1030 in the evening i really liked the music although we could hardly hear it ,i asked if possible to have it turned up just a little,NO COVID . was the reply....

First day of re-opening, I’m a stranger in a strange town. Giro d’italia on the tv, good beer selection and lovely staffs. Let me recharge my phone too.

I was asked to squeeze up so they could fit another couple in next to us, I was sitting on the 'x' which was marked to keep people apart. The X wasn't even 2 metres from the next table so it was pointless anyway. Hand...

We've been in here a few times and have always had a good experience. This time, my husband ordered a Starproman lager and it came with lime in it. I tasted it too and it was very clear to both of us that it was...

Great service and covid controls and service was great manager phil was so helpful and rest of the staff were to

I popped in for a quick beer at lunchtime & then again in the evening. Sadly they stop offering food at 7pm, so I did not get the chance to eat here. Everywhere was clean & it felt like safe place to visit. All staff...

Me and my husband stopped here for a drink whilst visiting Norwich. The service was great and a great selection of drinks. A nice pub with lots of character

Dropped in on 2 afternoons. Great place to sit and have a few beers. Good range of real ales on. Staff friendly, and Covid aware. Reasonably priced snacks.

We stopped off for a few drinks before a meal. I was thoroughly delighted with The Murderers. Great staff who really made us feel welcome during a really difficult time. They must have all incredible patience - its a hard job having to explain the...

I was staying for work in Norwich and called here for an early evening wind down drink. I was made to feel really welcome. even with all the covid rules. As a stranger to the area I found it very welcoming and a nice pint...

Went here with my husband and arranged for friends to join us as a birthday surprise. I Couldn’t get in contact with them on my phone so the landlord kindly lent me his mobile so I could let them know where we were. Service was...

We visited here with friends on the 19th September, landlord was very efficient, helpful, friendly, had a good time went back Saturday night for drinks before going to Middletons, , and went back to watch the football Sunday, would definitely recommend this pub

What was an amazing pub, now average. Shame as many happy memories. In tonight , incredibly clueless Team member real ales. Ordered something that was on tap, told me they never heard of it , but they freaking had it on?! Told I could have...

The staff could not have been more helpful. Customer service was excellent. We had lunch and a few drinks. A great selection of real ales and good food. Large portions.

Popped in a couple of times during our visit to Norwich! Good choice of ales, (for those that drink the stuff) place had character and nice People. Worth a visit step above the larger chains

If you want a decent choice of ales in a central Norwich location this is the place for you. I had a pint of S&P Eve’s Drop and it was fantastic. This place is an institution for ale fanatics and rightly so.

This is the most over priced pub £27 for a bottle of prosecco, obviously did not buy it so bought a bottle of wine and then charged £1.25 for a glass of soda water no thanks, when i questioned this was told that it was...

We were in Great Yarmouth for the week and decided we were coming to Norwich for a day out. This is one of the many pubs we had on a list to visit and we weren't disappointed. Good selection of real ales on. Would come...

Went for lunch with a friend in this interesting old pub. GF options available so we ordered and asked specifically whether our choices were gluten free as I'm Coeliac. The salad had dressing so we asked if it was GF; checked in the kitchen and...

Good food, ale overpriced. Sunday evening food choice, menu fair & not overpriced. I had a Murderers burger, partner had chilli. Food ok & served together, had a wait of 15 minutes which is acceptable as it was cooked & not sitting waiting in a...

Parasta on, kun hanasta löytyy The Perfect Finnish! Olutvalikoima hyvä ja siideriäkin sai pumpattavasta hanasta. Parempaa siideriä kun ei ole...

Popped off here as I'd heard good reviews. Had a breakfast bap which was very nice. Also consumed several Peroni at London prices but were great. Bar staff were lovely. Very obliging. A very good, very nice pub in a nice area of Norwich. Will...

If you look for some good food go in another place. Cold burger, some chips was cold and some hot and not good treatment at all. It Was written pint of beer and give us a small bottle of beer. Saying they don’t have pint....

We needed to eat, but were against the clock on a Sunday evening. The menu was good, a choice of vegetarian and decent pub food, ordered at the bar, decent collection of ales and when the food arrived in a timely fashion, it was great....

"We often use the pub for a pint before going on. All beers well kept, the place is warm with a real fire and there is always a good atmosphere. Never eaten, but the food being taken out looks wholesome and checking the menu, good...

Love this place, always good beer, I liked the IPA. Nice to be able to sit at the bar, watch footy and dig into Nachos!

Popped in here for a bite to eat and a quick drink. The pub itself is very olde world, clean and interesting decor. Seats weren’t very comfy though and tables very small. We ordered starters, main meals and drinks. Cups of tea were duly delivered...

Very friendly Pub, with great staff and management. There is a very good choice of Beers and other drinks. A great place to have lunch, Food is served to a high standard . if you are visiting Norwich this is a ''must'' place to visit.

I had a great vegetarian curry here. Naan bread, poppadom, onion bargies, samosas with my curry and rice. Lovely.

The best steak and ale pie ever - absolutely delicious - the pub was very busy - service was excellent, lovely unusual pub - and the pie and mash- like I said - to die for

Called in here while in Norwich on a Tuesday afternoon after a recommendation by one of the City guides, what a good choice a really original place would definitely recommend to visit would love to know more about the history if in Norwich make sure...

Cracking city centre pub...friendly staff and a big selection of cask ales.. very popular...even got TVs in the toilets !

We went in here for a drink and were greeted by the landlord Phillip Cutter. He acknowledged us, asked us where we were from and made us feel welcome. We chatted intermittently over the next hour or so and he then outlined the history of...

We called in for lunch and loved the pub from the minute we stepped through the door. Very welcoming staff, good beer on offer and dogs are very welcome too. I ordered the lasagne and my partner had the chicken curry and both meals were...

This is a comfortable pub in the centre of Norwich. The people were pleasant, and the food was hot and typically local. The steak and ale pie was a delicious, hearty dish. I didn't find the place particularly unique, but it served the purpose for...

This historic, well known city pub is well worth a visit.I had a tasty glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to go with my delicious steak and kidney pie.The meat was in a tasty gravy and tender and the vegetables cooked well, not overcooked but...

We stopped of here for an afternoon break. This pub reminds me of an old east end pub, the tables are quite close together whick makes it a very cozy place, we had a mixed platter to share of chicken, onion rings, garlic bread and...

Popped in for some lunch and chose a chicken and ham pie. Proper pie (not stew/pastry lid affair), with chips, gravy and veg, which all proved too much for my large appetite in the end. Great selection of ales, too.