Branford Arms has community spirit


05 October 2007

This imposing north city pub has had new life breathed into it since being taken over a few years ago by mother and son team, Jenny and Winton Simpson.

They've set about restoring the mock-Tudor fronted corner pub, which is in a great location just off Sprowston Road, in what is sometimes dubbed (by estate agents at least) the Silver Triangle, to its rightful place, at the heart of the community.

So it is now home to a thriving football team, live jazz, folk, rock, a pool team, darts, cribbage, you name it they do it, as long as it's a traditional pub activity.

They are also one of the city's biggest draws for live sport, shown on one of two huge screens, including a 104-inch high definition screen, one of only two in Norwich.

The pair took it over after searching the city for a suitable location. “We looked round for a couple of years, saw the Branford and fell in love with it,” said Winton. “It's a lovely traditional corner pub that dates back to 1904. It has a lot of potential that we've been busy developing.”

Despite being known as “the Branford” to most, it appears to have been recently reverted to its original name The Barnford Stores, together with a make-over of the outside.

The main bar is an open plan L-shape with a pool table to one side and a side room with a small stage to the other. Dark wood furniture is complemented with a red and green colour scheme. Nothing very new or modern, but, although it's a bit shabby in places and could do with a dust and polish, it fits the character of the place.

Upstairs there is a decent sized function room available - currently it is the regular home for musical gatherings of the Norwich Folk Club.

Outside there is a decent sized beer garden and kids play area, together with a number of tables at the front, which are now home from home for smokers.

At the bar they have a fair selection of real ales, together with more than just the usual lagers, including Belgian brews Hoegaarden and Leffe. They also operate a system for hungry customers where they'll order food for you from one of a number of local takeaways and let you eat it in the pub. Overall it's a proper local, but one whose appeal reaches further afield than the Edwardian streets which surround it.