The Old White Bell in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

The Old White Bell is our local village pub and we are so lucky to have this wonderful establisment within walking distance. Their Sunday lunch is always truly delicious and great value and bar manager Nicky always looks after us very well. The proprietors, James and Sean have created a tasteful, cosy and inviting ambience and we enjoy every visit.

Had our Southery Bowls Club Christmas meal here, 26 of us . We had a lovely evening, food was really good , nice freindly service and great value for money .

An excellent Sunday Lunch here with friends living locally to Southery. Three choices of roasts, with all trimmings and a variety of vegetables, all cooked to perfection and truly home made. The desserts were excellent too; my cherry bakewell pudding was delicious. Good service and fair prices contribute to this delightful pub restaurant’s appeal.

We had another fabulous Sunday lunch at our local, The Old White Bell. The food is home cooked and delicious and reasonably priced and we enjoyed chatting with our waitress Jo who did a great job of keeping everybody happy. Well done to the owners Sean and James for making this such a wonderful local.

Sadly, we did not get to eat at this pub. I booked a table for 9 people a couple of months ago for a Sunday roast - it was for a special occasions - the person on the phone confirmed our booking and that we could bring one dog. I was told to ring back a few days before we were due to go to ascertain veggie menus. I did as asked and was told by the girl who answered that our booking was ok and could I ring back again in a couple more days as menus for veggies were not yet decided. I then received a phone call from the pub saying that they had no such booking and they wouldn`t have made one as they didn`t accept dogs. To be honest, it was pretty obvious that they had messed up and didn`t want to admit it - why would I make up a booking?? They were very apologetic, but they completely ruined a special occasion for us. Luckily we were able to book at the Heron instead and had a superb meal there - will never go to the Old White Bell again - so disappointed to receive such shoddy treatment from a pub that has such good ratings. If you make a mistake - own up to it!

Food is not always available in the Old White Bell but when it is the quality is excellent. Sunday lunch is always good but this occasion was a pre Christmas get together. Our large group was served quickly and efficiently with large portions of tasty hot food. Beware the apple crumble - only the brave can eat a whole portion and some of our party took it home to finish. Christmas edition of well-kept real ale washed it all down.

We booked for Sunday lunch yesterday , and all I can say is fantastic little find , the food was hot and tasty , it was beautifully displayed on wooden boards with separate pot for the cauliflower cheese , and a little individual tiny pan of gravy , , when the meal arrived at our table it looked so pleading on the eye , and definitely didn't dissapoint, we opted for desserts and again they were absolutely lovely and beautifully displayed, the prices were amazing too , our bill came to 58.00 for 3 adults eating 2 courses each and 3 alcoholic drinks. The member of staff who served us was really friendly and made us welcome sorry I didn't get your name , but she had long silver blonde hair . Only thing I'm upset about is we don't live closer as we would be there every week if we did

Booked an air B&B in this village, because the The Old White Bell served food, Very sad to find on arrival, they have stopped serving food

Mid week meal, good warm welcome, not been here before and we were impressed with the decor. Lady who looked after us was very thoughtful, offered a table in the bar rather than restaurant as it was so quiet. Menu has been reduced which was a shame, what we chose however was very nice and freshly prepared for us. We will visit again and hopefully with more people the experience will be even better

We go out every Sunday for lunch and now and again during the week.... Well, what can we say..... Sunday Lunch - Starters - as a group of 4 had all listed between us and they were gorgeous. The Roast itself, lovely... good meat, good Roast Potatoes, Yorkshire Fluffy, Veg as they should be....and the dessert well......... Home made Biscoff Cheesecake and the Ginger Brownie.... OMG.... I cannot stop speaking about them, both brilliant but that Cheesecake, just flipping gorgeous. Clean - Staff Friendly - Good Service .... Just a heads up to the chef..... OMG everything was gorgeous as above, but if I can just say the Gravy could have been a bit thicker for us (but everyone's tastes are different).... Thank you ALL for a lovely Sunday Roast... but will be disappointed if no Biscoff Cheesecake available on next visit lol...

Telephoned ahead to get one of the last tables. We were not disappointed We are not from the area but would highly recommend this pub. The staff were very welcoming. The sunday lunch was fantastic and my unusual dietary needs were well catered for In fact others could learn lessons from this place. £15 Three courses bargin If we return to the area we will definitely visit here again

This is now the second time I have eaten at the restaurant in the pub and I enjoyed the food and drink as much as I did the first time. It doesn't feel quite right to call it pub food, since the quality and presentation are both excellent. The starters are delicious (within my group we sampled one of each), and were cooked beautifully. Our mains were equally tasty - I can recommend the scampi wholly - and clearly a lot of care is taken over them. The pub itself is chilled and a lovely place to spend an evening. The staff and owners are brilliant and I can't wait to visit again.

We met up with friends for sunday lunch not being local did not know what it would be like and the restaurant was quiet. However what a lovely sunday lunch portions good lovely selection of meats and fresh veg. Price wise very good and excellent service from the staff we will return

My husband and I enjoyed the Sunday Carvery yesterday at The Old White Bell and it was absolutely delicious - real home cooked food and the roast potatoes are some of the best I have had. There are 3 choices of meat and plenty of accompanying vegetables etc and all at a very reasonable price. Had a wonderful lemon tart for dessert and again this was scrummy and also very well priced. The staff were friendly and the atmosphere was good so we will definitely be returning.

Walking into the Old White bell is always a treat, this time of year they have tree that is about 10/12ft tall. Behind the bar you are always met with a smile and there’s a lot of choice. The food is always lovely and warm and I’ve never had a problem in my many times of eating here. Kids and dogs on leads are welcome too.

Just got back from Sunday lunch at The Old White Bell. This was our first visit and we really enjoyed our meal Choice of three meats and six different vegetables as well as roast potatoes and parsnips. All the veg was perfectly cooked not too hard and not soggy. We had lamb and again perfectly cooked. Another great thing was the gravy was served to your table in a gravy boat which We really appreciated. Great value for £8.00 and you can book online.

We've lost two of the three pubs in our village so the choice of somewhere to pop out for a quick bite to eat has become limited. We therefore ventured four or five miles to the nearby village of Southery. The Old White Bell is on the main street at the west of the village and It was brilliant. Regrettably a little short on hand-drawn ale (just one), but a wide selection of other beers from which I settled for a decent, but too cold, Bass Mild. The menu is short, but apparently changes regularly. It has a Tapas / Starters section with perhaps ten dishes, these available at a cost of three dishes for £10. Then the ten or so mains are supported further by a range of burgers and pizza (from memory). The food was delicious, we went for four tapas shared, then for mains a Chili and a Lasagna; both of these obviously 'home cooked' and full of flavour. At the end there was no room for desserts! With some beers, wine and a gin the whole lot came in at under £25/head. Through the summer I can see that to turn up and order (say) six tapas shared and a drink each would be well under £30 all in, and make a perfect light dinner for the warm evenings. Decor is pleasing, the girl behind the bar and waitressing was great, the restaurant is separate from the bar which has a huge television (luckily sound off last night) and there was some decent background music playing instead. Apparently the bar is dog friendly, but the restaurant isn't - you can eat in the bar if you wish. This was a very pleasant surprise, and the Sunday Carvery is well spoken of too, so we may give this a try.

Excellent value for money. Staff friendly and nothing too much trouble. Homemade rosties and puds great selection of fresh veg. Very clean all through both resturant toilets and bar. Will return again. Owners made a point of making you feel at home and not rush you out of the door.

The dogs who are well behaved (one is an assistance dog) were not welcomed. The staff were stomping up and down behind the bar, spoke to me in a very rude manner so much so I left before I finished my drink let alone have anything to eat. As I say do not bother go elsewhere.

I would be more than happy to give 5* but unfortunately there were some downsides. Let's start with the positives; very nice looking place, warm and inviting, staff couldn't get any better, food really good and nicely presented. Good place for families and kids got plenty of space to play. On downsides... well... seeing dogs playing in the bar area with their dirty paws on the table it's a big no no! What a shame as a place freshly renovated! Food great but could do better especially with portion sizes and some extras likes sauces or more ingruidians, all nicely cooked but not enough. Overall worth to try! :)

Acabamos de volver de nuestro asador en este pub. 6 adultos 2 niños. selección de carnes de cerdo, pavo, 3 carne. mucha variedad de verduras, también, Nuevas ollas y yorkys roastys. salsa era llevado a su mesa.Carne muy tierna y sabrosa, y la zona del restaurante está bien decorado y limpio así como los baños. El personal era muy amable y servicial. Esta fue nuestra primera visita aquí, pero no será la última. Mi única queja es con los postres muy básico nada especial, así que fue un poco decepcionante, así que no correr a pedir postres nuevo pero asados fue muy buena zona fuera muy básico con un pequeño que no columpios que estable. Pero en general por primera vez todavía me calificó como alto como personal muy bueno, limpio, buena comida, justo lo que queríamos para nuestra familia.

Went for the Sunday Carvery last Sunday a good choice of.pork,beef or turkey all very well cooked service was also first class great value for money will be back !

Después de leer las críticas, pensamos que este sería un buen lugar para comer. La hora del almuerzo que era sábado y el restaurante estaba vacío, aparte de nosotros. La camarera era acogedor y eficiente, pero la comida era mediocre. Los aperitivos eran bastante ricos y mucho mejor que las hamburguesas con queso, que tenía claramente vienen directamente del congelador que no volveremos.

We have eaten many times at The Bell. The traditional Sunday Carvery, with 3 meats and a wonderful selection of vegetables to choose from, always fills me up. We received a friendly welcome from the bar and great service from the restaurant staff.

Probado el nuevo menú, guau es fabulosa, mi marido tenía el pollo con chorizo salsa. Sabía maravilloso, y humo, patatas que lo acompañaban eran claros y suaves. Yo tenía el perro pijo, que es un perro caliente con un toque trad. Comida bien hecho.

As a chef it has been quite a while where I have gone somewhere and have said to tell the other chef oh my god this food is fantastic I have never had food so tasty and so good in a long long time recommend this pub to anyone I'll be going there in a couple of weeks for this Sunday lunch excellent service good beer great people and a great chef and fantastic food

Reservamos para comer el domingo. Cuando llegamos nos dimos cuenta de que era un asador. Uno de nuestro grupo es vegetariano y el personal nos fuimos a la cocina para comprobar qué podían hacer. Llegaron con tres opciones para vegetarianos. La comida era excelente, y...

Metimos en una copa el almuerzo con mis padres, agradable y simpático, limpio y pequeño pub. Volvería

We popped in for lunch as were were in the area. Super were super friendly. The menu had loads of options, four different meals for vegetarians, which was great. The veggie burger had no cheese so I happily ate that, as a vegan. Food was absolutely delicious. I was really impressed to get a massive corn on the cob included in the price of my burger. My boyfriend had the pulled burger and loved it. Aspall on tap too! We'll definitely be coming back!

We went to the Old White Bell for the 1st time on the night before New Year's Eve, so the restaurant area was empty except for us. Despite this, the food was slightly slow in arriving, but I think it might have all been cooked to order and in any event, it did not matter as we were all talking so much.We found the table a bit small for the 4 of us, but both men in the party are bigger chaps. Most of the meals were served on slate or wooden platters, which are aesthetically pleasing, but it would actually have been easier to eat off a plate. My starter skidded off the slate onto the table and my husband had problems eating peas out of a bowl and the cold slate cooled his steak quickly. However, Chef was accommodating and I am sure that s/he would provide a plate instead if asked. On the plus side, the waitress was delightful and friendly and I was very pleased because as a vegetarian I actually had a choice of 4 mains, which is unusual - Broccoli bake, vege lasagne, vege burger and vegetable crumble. You are also able to choose what type of vegetables and potatoes you have with your main, so I was able to have a corn on the cob, rather than the ubiquitous salad or coleslaw. It was absolutely delicious.Everyone enjoyed their meals. If I was being picky, then I would say that you could not taste the figs in my starter of fig parcels, but the overall taste and appearance was good. My husband said that there were too many peas with his steak (although in my opinion you can never have too many peas) and he was not offered any sauce with his steak, other than mayo/ketchup.The 4 of us basically had 3 courses with soft drinks and teas and coffees and the bill came to just over £83, which I thought was very good value. We had to query our bill twice. When it initially arrived it was for over £100 as food and drink that we had not ordered had been added to it. We were given a revised bill which did not then contain any of our soft drinks. On the 3rd revision of the bill, it appeared to be correct.The negative elements in this review in my opinion were only minor and did not affect our enjoyment of the meal and I only mentioned them in order to give a rounded review. We will definitely be eating at the Old White Bell again. The food was good, the service was friendly and the price was reasonable.

Had a great Sunday lunch! Happy atmosphere, very busy, great food, great staff, Molly who served us was polite, friendly and helpful! Which made our family Meal out lovely!

Perfect good food...good service....friendly....good price definitely would recommend even for those veggies as roasties cooked in veg oil .yay!!!

Wirklich überraschend so einen netten Pub mitten auf dem Dorf in England zu entdecken. Angeschlossen an den Pub ist ein kleines Restaurant. Das Essen dort ist wirklich Spitzenklasse.

in the past year the pub has been transformed not only in its decor, but the atmosphere and food too. There is a warm welcome, staff are very efficient. As for the food, well it is cooked fresh to order and beautifully presented. Well worth a visit.

We had good reports (from trip advisor) and decided to try the "new" restaurant with 2 other friends and boy was it disappointing! They didn't have enough of the mains to satisfy the order, twice we had to change choices. The wine was unbelievably poor and choice was limited to 3-4 wines.The host was pleasant enough despite his embarrassment but the chef didn't bother to come out and discuss his very poor meal. We will not repeat this mistake.

Fantastic service and lovely food. Traditional pub grub and a little bit more. Am looking forward to trying the carvery soon!

Went for Sunday Carvery. Seated promptly (we had reserved - good thing, the restaurant side is very small)! We had to wait to get our Carvery items because the roasties were still roasting. It probably took 20 minutes for them to be done before we could proceed to get our food. I will say, the roasties were fantastic. I had the beef, which was very good, but 2 family members had the pork, which they said was too fatty. There are multiple vegetables to choose from. It is a serve yourself Carvery, but no explanation was really given. Are extra veg allowed? We weren't really sure. My 2 teenagers asked, and were allowed, extra Yorkshire puddings, but I'm not sure whether this is allowed, or an exception was made. Our female server was pleasant, and did check on us. Overall, especially because of the pork, we will probably go elsewhere for a Carvery in future.

This place is fantastic. The food is probably some of the best in the area. Menu choice is great to. Always made to feel welcome. Certainly not one of those village pubs where everyone stares at you when you walk in. My only criticism is that it's not in my village.

My first visit. A village pub that serves good food (as opposed to a restuarant that serves beer).I am told the landlord(s) are young people; well they are making a good effort and satisfying most customers.Choice of 3 real ales plus a perry, all in good condition.Pleasant staff willing to have conversation over the bar.Our meals were very good, Lasagne, Beef burger, well presented, good sized portions for a good price. Fine dining, no, but doesn't pretend to be, but does acheive well presented and tasty food at the right price.If I lived in this village, or even near, I would be a regular.I am not keen on the use of slates instead of plates and I prefer burgers that have not been seasoned, but each to their own, we were quite happy with out night out.Tables in nicely decorated dining room is separate from the public bar with its adjacent pool table. Dining tables set for 2 an4 were happily pushed together to accomadate a larger family but would have to give notice as there are only 6 or so tables in total.Thanks.

we haven't been since Christmas and what a difference. The food has always been fab here, but there are now more to choose from, and the meals are wonderfully presented. The wine list is good and reasonably priced. The service too is wonderful. A little gem, a must to visit.

Myself and partner along with our 16month old girl. We had a great meal. I had the beef lasagne with chip and coleslaw and my partner had scampi and chips. These were both delicious. I like the fact that you choose the main and then can choose any 2 sides that you want with your meal. Will differently returning. Keep up the great work. And the new look makes it feel a lot more welcoming.

I have now eaten in the reastraunt on many occasions, most recently at the cavery for mothers day with my partner and parents. The cavery is supberb with a great selection of meats and vegetables, I like that a gravy boat is placed on your table so it fresh and warm plus you can have more if you ask, James and Sean are very welcoming and pull out all the stops to ensure a good experience.

Visited on Friday evening. My wife and I both ordered the steak and mushroom pudding - she had mashed potatoes and I asked for chips. There was a VERY long delay in getting the food even though there was only one other couple in the restaurant. When it arrived there was a mix-up and I was brought salmon instead of my steak pudding. There was then a ten minute wait. However the food was lovely with generous portions of vegetables. (Four different veg + potatoes). They offered to provide free desert because of the problem but we were too full to take advantage of their generous offer.We would certainly return if we were in the area and we wanted straightforward straightforward pub fare.

My wife and I recently had supper at The Old White Bell.We really admired the fact that these two enthusiastic young men have taken on quite a difficult challenge in turning around this village pub into a very agreeable place to eat and relax.It is a place of two halves, on one side you have the village bar and pool table, which is probably not to everyones taste and on the other side of the building, a pleasant restaurant area (The Pantry) has been created which is very different from the bar area.The service was excellent and the food very enjoyable, especially the treacle pudding which was to die for, despite the heavy sounding name, it was one of the lightest hot puddings we have ever had. For the starters we had the mussels, which were possibly a touch bland and goats cheese and beetroot tart (great pastry). Our main courses were steak and piri piri chicken. The steak was cooked perfectly rare and the chicken was very moist and tender. Extra sauce was also supplied on request. The jacket potato with the chicken was delicious, crispy skinned and really fluffy in the middle, the salad was good too. Ok, so there is no wine list and possibly these young men may need some advice on creating a basic wine list with some good quality house wines and maybe a few more special ones, but I feel that they have already come a long way in their journey and done it very well.I would like to wish them every success for the future and congratulate them on what they have already achieved.

I visited the Old White Bell as it was recently rated number one restaurant in the Downham Market area.Of course I had an open mind ,and as always hoped for an enjoyable evening.Trip Adviser is a very useful medium ,with helpful information ,but this is an example of its shortcomings.It was admitted to me that reviews had been submitted by friends ,to manipulate the rating.I was told "but they have eaten here ".The other factor ,which is immediately apparent to any one with experience of eating out ,is that the couple renting the place and running it have limited knowledge of the trade,and may not have tried other restaurants first.James,who serves drinks and food,is an engaging,pleasant and helpful young man ,but has a lot to learn.The chef ,Sean, who is in charge,did not appear at all ,even to speak to us,although the place was very quiet.This ,despite a couple who run a well known local pub/ restaurant also being there giving it a try.I have no doubt decent beer is served, but when we went first into the public bar it is a nondescript area with no atmosphere whatsoever.The restaurant has been given a facelift,and is quite pleasant..The first disappointment was that there is no wine list at all,not even a few on a board.I was not surprised they do not stock Campari ,but we were offered "red or white wine ".Both the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were the ubiquitous Jack Rabbit ,an unfortunate name and label,and an appalling wine, overpriced at £14.00.My opinion is that they have made a poor choice of drinks supplier ,who may well provide reasonable beer ,but has only a very average wine range at higher than average prices.The Restaurant is called The Pantry,and there is a good selection of starters ,main courses and snacks,plus a few specials on a blackboard ,and about 4 desserts .Two of our party had mussels in white wine,OK if rather small mussels ,but no spoons for the sauce and no water bowl to clean up your hands afterwards .My partner had salmon fillet for main,but it was overcooked and much too dry. The vegetables were rather bland ,and plain.The other three of us chose steaks ,2 fillet (£18.00) and one sirloin (£14.00). The steaks were generous size ,and correctly medium rare or rate, but lacking the spices which add flavour used by a good chef.The treacle pudding dessert was moist and full of flavour ,served with pouring cream or custard .The cappuccino looked fine,with a lot of froth,but the coffee was weak and insipid.There are no digestifs,and just one brandy ( Courvoisier ).I am quite sure the Sunday lunch carvery ( only £8.00 ) is good value.The portions we were given were generous ,and the service by James was attentive, but he and his cook/ manager partner have much to learn.The food maybe suits their present clientele ,but they need to improve in all areas if they are to attract diners who are even slightly discerning.Having said that I wish them luck ,and I might return later in the year to give the pub a second chance.In the meantime I suggest Trip Adviser reconsider their position in the Downham Market " league.

Upon visiting I found the Service to be more than adequate and extremely polite and professional. You can tell that this Business it well looked after by all that work here. Would not hesitate on recommending the Food to any friends or Family. The Food was superb value for money and I look forward to returning whenever I can.

Iv been meaning to come back here and try the much talked about carvery and I wasn't disappointed! I hadn't booked a table for me and my family and the restaurant was pretty busy, so I was asked if I wanted to wait in the bar area until a table was available. We were offered drinks and we picked a nice table next to a log stove were I could read the Sunday paper (which were supplied)Within no time at all we were soon being advised that there was space for us in the restaurant to eat. We was shown through by a lovely young waitress who even spent time chatting to us all. We decided to have a three course meal which was only £12 for an adult which in my eye for the quality and the service we were recieving was an absolute bargain! For starters I had fish cake with a sweet chilli sauce which id highly recommend if it is on the menu. With my main I chose to have the turkey which was cooked beautifully and didn't taste dry as it can do sometimes. You could see all the potatoes and veg were fresh and not the usual froze stuff you'd find normally... They even did honey roast parsnips. The gravey was brought out to us in a gravy boat which saved me having to get up to add more half way through my dinner. I had the classic fudge cake for my dessert which was a nice finish to my meal. All in all It was a very nice enjoyable meal which I could not fault. I will definitely be recommending this to friends and will be returning in the future.

I had read and heard excellent things about the Sunday Carvery, so we decided to go here for my mother in law's birthday. On arrival we were greeted by a very pleasant waitress and a drinks order was promptly taken. We ordered starters which took a little while to arrive and with 4 restless children at the table it probably felt like longer. When they arrived the soup was luke warm, and my mussels were too. After the starters were cleared we then had to wait just over half an hour for them to top up the roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings so we could have have our main course. The meat was no better than average and the vegetables had been sat out for that long that they were dry and burnt. Desserts were ok. Then when it came to the bill they charged my 2 year old daughter and the rest of the children who were all under 8 the same price as an adult. Not quite sure how that works?? All in all 3 hours of my life that I won't remember fondly. It would take a lot for me to be tempted back or to recommend it to anybody else.

I have been living in the Norfolk area for around a year now and the incredible reviews at this pub made me think I should pay a visit. We were not disappointed ! My girlfriend had the veggie burger with wedges and salad which came to just £6 and was good quality/portion size. I had the cheese burger and requested for extra bacon, which was added with no fuss or extra charge! Also great quality. In total the meal came to £15- far less than it was worth! Will be returning.

Wow! Six of us dined here today and nothing but praise for this pub hidden away in the village of Southery, just off the A10 south of Downham Market. Do not be sceptical of the sunday menu price of 3 courses for £12 (I know its unbelievable) which includes a huge 3 meat carvery (all cooked to perfection) a starter and a desert both of which were excellent. The young guy now running this place was happy to chat at out table and along with the efficient waitresses and bar staff made our experience here superb. Will definitely be returning and will highly recommend this pub restaurant.

We took my mum in here for the Sunday Roast Carvery, she had not visited the Old White Bell for over 2 years and she was very pleased with the way the décor and surroundings have been greatly improvedThe meal was excellent, the staff were very efficient and friendly, could not have been any better

Easy to locate with ample parking. The pub and restaurant are very clean with a friendly atmosphere throughout. The menu was easy to read and has an excellent selection to choose from with reasonable prices. The food was cooked fresh, portions were great and nothing was too much trouble. I had the pulled pork burger which was delicious. Cant wait to go back again!

Had a great meal on Sunday everything was fresh and tasty. staff very polite and helpful ive been a few times and it gets better and better. This is a must so if you have a chance I,d give it ago well done.

We have been to the restaurant several times for Sunday lunch and each time we have not been disappointed. The pub is in a small village but easily accsesable from the A10, the owners are extremely friendly and very helpful, if there is anything you require they will try their best to get it for you. On a Sunday we have the carvery and my husband always likes plenty of meat which they are happy to give you, unlike some places where you can only have a set amount. There is also plenty if veg and a nice hot gravy boat is brought to your table. There is also a jug of fresh iced lemon water on your table. We all had desserts, mine was a lovely home made apple pie.

Hidden gem, with great food and a warm and cosy atmosphere. Good choice of pub favourites on the menu with excellent value for money - carvery on a Sunday. Would very much recommend a night out here. Looking forward to our next visit.

We booked for the Valentines set menu and have had a lovely time. They had made a real effort with mood lighting, table clothes, live music and even a rose on the table to take away. The food was delicious and amazing value for money, you should charge more!

Not to bad to go for a meal with friends. Don't understand why its under Downham Market. Food not great but ok as it is a "pub" will not be in a hurry to rush back.

I booked a table for 2 for valentines night at 8.15pm ,We got to the pub at 7.30 pm for pre drinks, at exactly 8.15 we was told our table was ready, on entering the restaurant we was shown to our seats the mood in the room was perfect, colour changing wall lights were setting the scene perfectly, our table was covered in crisp white table cloths and a white napkin formed into a design.To my wife's delight a single red rose was placed on the table (a real rose), we had pre ordered our food so we didn't have to wait long for our starters to be served, I had mussels in a white wine sauce and my wife had fig and goats cheese parcels, whilst devouring our starters soft music was playing in the background, we then heard the soft voice of a young lady singing along to the music,it was lovely she sang without a mike and speakers so we was still able to talk without shouting. The owners certainly pulled out all the stops their attention to detail was spot on, It's easy to write good food and great service but I can say in all honesty sitting in the restaurant in southerly I could easily have been sitting in a high class restaurant in London, yes our food was Excellent the evening was Excellent,I can't thank Sean, James, and staff for giving me and my wife the perfect valentines night

The food and service is second to none, a varied menu, great portions all cooked fresh. Lovely decor and a great atmosphere, with nothing too much trouble. Little extras like water with lemon at each table is great. Would highly recommend this place to eat, Sunday roasts to are very good value and of a high standard.

This pub is very clean and pleasant, have been for Sunday dinner and couldn't ask for anything better. Really enjoyed my meal with my family and all staff are welcoming. If anyone is travelling by or visiting nearby then you should try an pop in to see the change around.

Starters was a really nice French onion soup which tasted great and was very nice and hot. Bread on the top of the soup was something different and very nice. We opted for the carvery for the main course and was treated to ample portions of gammon, Turkey and beef - all were really tasty. Turkey can often be very dry but this was very moist. Vegetables were all perfect, particularly the parsnips. Gravy was a tad weak for my own tastes but still very nice and loved that it was in a gravy boat on the table waiting for us when we sat back down rather than needing to use a ladle. Given the quality of the food and the nice surroundings we were very pleasantly surprised with the price - very good value for money and will definitely be coming back sooner rather than later!

I'm visiting a mate in Thetford and he said he knew of a really good pub in Southery for food. I thought it was a bit far for lunch, but I'm glad I came! The atmosphere was really pleasant, the staff were really friendly, but what really made this place stand out was the food - it was fantastic! All of the food was served piping hot, the soup, carvery and vegetables were really tasty and I'm genuinely impressed with the whole experience. I can't say it any other way - it was delightful and I look forward to returning here.

I read all the reviews here and thought must be a plant of mates reviews. So we went. It is a carvery (on Sunday) but having said that it is one of the very best I have ever been to. We both had Turkey superbly cooked roast spuds yorkshire and up to five vegetables. The veg in particular all fresh cooked slightly al dente not at all like mass produced pub food. It's just fabulous and we will go again. Each meal £8 don't know how they do it just terrific. In fact we might go more often than not it's just so good. Service and beer all very good a delight

Amazing food and service, can not fault them, :) food was better then any where ive been in a long while, and will be going back again many more times.

I can't believe the change and turn around in this local village pub! The newly decorated bar and restaurant made for great surroundings whilst enjoying a group Christmas party. I will certainly be recommending The Old White Bell to everyone. Can't wait to return and give the much talked about carvery a ago.

We found this by chance one dark cold windy wintery January night and were delighted to have a delicious meal ( steak pudding was superb) in a warm friendly atmosphere. We wish the new owners all the best in this venture and will be returning.

So pleased to have this superb bar/restaurant close by. The bar is clean and freshly decorated. Staff are friendly and helpful. Sunday lunch is to die for and super value. Our children love going out for Sunday lunch and we don't miss many.

Visited this pub/restaurant many years ago and thought it had a lot of potential for decorating and updating. Well after a lot of hard work by the new owners it has realised its potential . From the warm welcome to a great atmosphere and then the beautifully decorated restaurant I couldn't have been more impressed. Had a lovely meal and will be a regular from now on !! Good luck to Sean and James

Once the joke of the village and named old dive hell,The youth of Sean and James with family backing have launched this run down village pub into orbit. The refurb is simply wow with more on the way.Top food,superb real ale,resonably priced,fine hospitatlity...and a Malbac red wine in a village pub???the locals are a good bunch as well.Enjoyed my recent visit,will visit again.Put this address in your smart phone as place to eat when in the area,you will not be disappointed....FACT !This pub is going places ......

I have enjoyed weekday lunches at The Old White Bell, in addition to an event held in the beautifully decorated restaurant, and seven of us came for a Sunday carvery. All meals provide excellent value for money, and are taken in a lovely restaurant one side of the pub. Food is freshly cooked and attractively served. Staff are very obliging and committed to providing a first-class service for customers. Well done Shaun and James, and thank you for making dining out locally such an enjoyable and affordable experience.

We have now had several trips to The Old white bell each time we have excellent service. We heard about this little gem through friends so we travel 45mins to be greeted like old friends . James & Sean are excellent host as are the staff . Food is of excellent quality plenty to choose from very well cooked and presented. We have taken friends with us and they have been very impressed with the food and service. The resturant and bar area is immaculately clean, cosy and very comfortable. If going for the sunday carvery best to book as the old white bell is the place to be for sunday dinner. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who wants good food at good prices. Well done James & Sean you got it spot on .

This is one of the best pubs ever. Great owner and staff. The food is out of this world.its very clean and friendly. Ive lived in the village for 6yrs and this is the best the pub has ever been well done.will tell everyone this is were to go.

Took my daughter for lunch for her 18th - food was excellent & staff lovely & friendly - will definately be eating there again - fantastic homely pub

Very friendly pub, clean and well presented. The staff go out of their way to help and make you feel relaxed. The restaurant , which is beautifully decorated, has a lovely range of food, delicious, freshly cooked and served. Would recommend to anyone.

Finally a lovely place to eat locally. Have had great meals on every visit, food is consistently good. Friendly atmosphere, great service, wide range of beer and wines in clean glasses! Carvery on Sundays - real potatoes and fresh veg!!! choice of 3 meats for £8, make sure you book as getting very popular. Wish the new owners every success, it is well deserved.

From the minute you walk in to the pub you can feel its a very welcoming environment. Beautifully decorated (especially so now that its xmas).The host's, Sean and James, are extremely accommodating and will try to make every individual happy. I have a very fussy daughter and on a sunday Carvery visit my daughter decided she wanted a hot dog, not usually on the sunday menu, but dispite having a full restaurant to catet for they still pulled out all the stops to make my little one happy. The food is on an exceptional level...and very reasonably priced. I recommend visiting for a sunday lunch but make sure you book as its very popular :)

Welcoming, friendly, aesthetic, warm, Very pleasant staff and most of all superb food. Sunday carvery I would recommend to everyone I meet.

A few months in new ownership and this village local has improved considerably. Newly decorated and featuring a cosy restaurant it is also popular with locals. We have enjoyed a good meal here before but this visit was for a group meal. Service was quick, efficient and friendly. The food was plentiful and good quality, well presented without being 'pretty'. Three different real ales were on offer. The menu is rather better than your usual village pub and had something for all tastes.

Be prepared for a lovely welcome to a beautifully restored rural village pub. A simple but ample menu, delicious hot food that is well priced in a tastefully refurbished environment. I really hope the owners do well here, they clearly are making a huge effort to be involved in the community as well as providing a service. The main courses come with a your choice of two sides and the desserts are wonderful. It was quiet being a midweek lunchtime but I understand from my friend Sunday lunch carvery is very busy! Looking at their Facebook page it looks popular - I can't wait to visit again -perhaps for Steak night on a Wednesday which looks brilliant value for money. Well done.