Pub of the week: Family village pub which has strong connection to the past

He has worked at London's Tate Gallery, the Norwich Castle Museum and owned his own sandwich shop in Norwich.

Pub of the Week - Erpingham Arms.PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

But after buying the Spread Eagle on Eagle Road, Erpingham, in December 2010 owner and landlord Paul Wayling, 44, has not looked back.

Mr Wayling and his wife Joanne, 35, a former Norfolk County Council worker, spent £150,000 renovating the historic pub before reopening it as the Erpingham Arms in August 2011.

He said: 'I had grown tired of my sandwich shop on Dereham Road, we had two young children and I wanted to do something a bit different and more challenging. We wanted to get out of the city and this seemed like the way forward.'

When the couple bought the building, which dates back to 1717 in parts, the pub had been empty for about a year.

Mr Wayling worked 'around the clock' to refurbish the family-friendly pub which serves local food to villagers as well as holidaymakers.

'The work was very tough and owning a pub is not an easy career. I was under to illusions about how hard it was going to be.

'The village was keen to get their pub back because it had become an eyesore.

'I wanted to maintain the pub element where people could pop in for a couple of pints and not feel pressurised to buy food,' he added.

Incorporated in the pub's sign is the coat of arms which belonged to Sir Thomas Erpingham who played a crucial role in the Battle of Agincourt – an English victory against the French in the Hundred Years' War on October 25 1415.

Real ales are important to the pub and the bar sells five different ales, brewed in East Anglia. The beers are changed on a regular basis.

He added: 'The ale is the driving force of the business and the customers are pretty discerning.'

Barns which used to belong to the Spread Eagle were home to Woodforde's brewery between 1983-1989 when the Woodbastwick firm was starting out.

Mr Wayling said the business was going in the right direction and hopes to open six bed and breakfast rooms above the pub and put on specialised food nights.