Celebrated table

The Brisley Bell

Name: The Brisley Bell
Address: The Green, Brisley, Norfolk, NR20 5DW, East Dereham, GB
Telephone: 01362 705024

Hervé Stouvenel leads the kitchen at this historic Norfolk coaching inn, where seasonal British cooking meets global flair behind ivy-clad walls.

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The story

The Brisley Bell in East Dereham | Award-Winning Modern British Dining

A Restored Coaching Inn

Operating as a Modern British destination in East Dereham, The Brisley Bell began life as a coaching inn in 1706. A thorough restoration in 2017 preserved the original character while introducing jade-green walls, exposed brick, and polished timber floors. Ivy frames the entrance, and wooden settles alongside kitchen chairs create a relaxed environment that regional guides consistently praise.

The Kitchen and Seasonal Plates

Head chef Hervé Stouvenel partners with local artisans to craft a menu centered on robust, meat-led mains. His technique merges classic English foundations with subtle global influences, reflecting a steady evolution of Modern British cooking. Sautéed kidney with smoked bacon on toasted sourdough introduces the meal, while main plates feature grilled pork loin with sweetheart cabbage and cod fillets dressed in Norfolk asparagus and leek oil.

Drinks and Garden Spaces

The freehouse model supports a wide array of hand-pumped ales from regional breweries complemented by a structured wine list. Evening guests often transition to one of the six converted barn bedrooms, which open directly onto the property’s two-acre garden. This seamless flow between dining, drinking, and resting keeps the pace unhurried and firmly aligned with contemporary British cuisine.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026

The Good Food Guide

Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good

Cuisines Fusion, Modern British

Services Dinner, Events, Lunch, Outdoor Seating, Private Parties, Table Service, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheelchair Access, Wi-Fi

History

On the record

2026

The Good Food Guide — Good

Hiding behind its full-length green ivy coat is a north Norfolk inn with rooms that has plenty of fanatical support. ‘An absolutely fantastic local restaurant with exceptionally friendly staff and quality food every time,’ is a typical endorsement. The place is done up in a nice mix of old and new decorative touches, with a shiny wood floor, walls in jade-green or undressed brick, and old settles or kitchen chairs to settle on, and there's the bonus of two acres of garden to enjoy in fine weather. It wouldn't be a proper dining pub without a steak night (Tuesdays), but there is also an enterprising modern menu that wouldn't look at all out of place on one of London's leafier fringes. Try sautéed kidney and smoked bacon on toasted sourdough to start, then cod fillet with roasted cauliflower and Norfolk asparagus with mash and leek oil for that distant waft of the coast, or chicken and ham pie with mash and seasonal greens. Indeed, well-sourced meats are the star attractions of main dishes such as grilled pork loin steak with sweetheart cabbage, apple sauce and sautéed potato. Puddings, crumbles and brownies await the pure in heart at the finishing stage, or perhaps consider a rhubarb flan tartlet with rhubarb and custard ice cream. The Sunday lunch prix-fixe looks like a bargain. Hand-pumped ales and a serviceable wine list complete the picture.

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Established

Location

Find us

The Green, Brisley, Norfolk, NR20 5DW
East Dereham, United Kingdom
01362 705024
welcome@thebrisleybell.co.uk
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