The Unthank Arms
Quick info
About The Unthank Arms
On Newmarket St in Norwich, The Unthank Arms is a Victorian pub with an upstairs grill restaurant and a garden. The kitchen serves a Sunday roast alongside starters such as pakora, and sticky toffee pudding comes in a portion large enough to share. Roast meat choices can run out during service, and vegetable portions have been reported as limited, with the roast potatoes sometimes tough to cut. A private dining room is available, and the venue takes group bookings for parties as large as 40. Dogs are welcome throughout. The garden doubles as event space and includes shelter for guests. A small car park sits on site, though additional parking nearby is limited.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree parking lot · Free street parking · On-site parking
- AccessibilityWheelchair: entrance, parking lot, restroom
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention roast potatoes overcooked and hard, sticky toffee pudding, yorkshire puddings and pakora starter.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention roast potatoes overcooked and hard, sticky toffee pudding, yorkshire puddings and pakora starter.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday roast dinner draws the most attention, though opinions split sharply: some describe roast beef or pork servings arriving with only one carrot and one parsnip, roast potatoes so hard they were difficult to cut, and red cabbage vinegar bleeding into the rest of the plate, while another visitor's Sunday lunch came with huge portions and fab service. A Christmas lunch is described similarly uneven, with tough roast potatoes and dry, cardboard-like Yorkshire puddings. Close behind the food, the pub is repeatedly booked for group events, a wedding reception for forty guests, and Christmas parties for eight to twelve, with staff called kind and accommodating even after a last-minute cancellation. Other specifics singled out include the pakora starter, recommended for sharing, and a sticky toffee pudding large enough to serve two or three. One visit notes service slowing as the pub grew busier, with the bill having to be requested twice before dessert arrived.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday roast dinner draws the most attention, though opinions split sharply: some describe roast beef or pork servings arriving with only one carrot and one parsnip, roast potatoes so hard they were difficult to cut, and red cabbage vinegar bleeding into the rest of the plate, while another visitor's Sunday lunch came with huge portions and fab service. A Christmas lunch is described similarly uneven, with tough roast potatoes and dry, cardboard-like Yorkshire puddings. Close behind the food, the pub is repeatedly booked for group events, a wedding reception for forty guests, and Christmas parties for eight to twelve, with staff called kind and accommodating even after a last-minute cancellation. Other specifics singled out include the pakora starter, recommended for sharing, and a sticky toffee pudding large enough to serve two or three. One visit notes service slowing as the pub grew busier, with the bill having to be requested twice before dessert arrived.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“A lovey lunch with really great service. Recommend the pakora starter, wish we hadn't ordered it to share! This is my favourite pub for a casual meal.”
- Google user
“Disappointing doesn’t really cover it. We went at 4 pm on a Sunday. No beef no carrots. We both went for the pork. The meat was ok but, the roast potatoes were over cooked and hard to the point your could barely cut them. The Yorkshire puddings despite being home made were dry and had a cardboard texture. The veg that was served was average at best. Halfway through an 8 hour service I would have expected a full choice of meat and veg. I paid the same as everyone else and the standard should be the same as the first one out of the kitchen. I will of course not return as there are much better options in Norwich.”
- Google user
“We booked the Unthank Arms for our wedding reception in May, and we had such a wonderful day! Ben and his team were so helpful and kind throughout the whole process, and it was a breeze to organise with them! The venue was perfect for us for a group of 40; it didn't feel crowded at all, and everyone had enough space to eat, mingle, and dance. We were also about to decorate it the way we liked. Being able to use the garden was amazing, especially since it was a beautiful day, though there is shelter there too if needed. The food was all delicious as well! We had a fantastic day and so did our guests - we can't recommend The Unthank enough as a venue!”
- Google user
“Came today for a roast dinner which came highly recommended by a friend. Unfortunately the roast beef dinner fell short of my expectations. It was served with 1 small carrot and 1 small parsnip, I’ve never been to any restaurant where I’ve had to ask for more vegetables, and when I did ask I was given 1 more carrot and 1 more parsnip 🤦🏻♀️ the red cabbage’s vinegar flavour was all over the green cabbage and some of the meat so made it taste awful. The potatoes were hard. The beef was lovely and the Yorkshire tasted good. We were left waiting a while to order our desserts as the pub got busier, and also had to ask for the bill twice. Nice atmosphere and decor however the portions should be bigger for £20 and service a bit more efficient”
- Google user
“We had a lovely work Christmas do here. We booked for 12 of us and one cancelled on the day. They were so accommodating. The choices were incredible. The food portions were great value for money. Drinks were reasonable. Small car park but some parking around the area but very limited. Staff were friendly.”
Highlights
“This cosy and ornate Victorian pub serves real ales and has an upstairs grill restaurant and garden.”
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Sports
- Popular for solo dining
- Happy hour drinks
Amenities
- Wi-Fi
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Accepts reservations
- Outdoor seating
- Dogs allowed
- Dine-in
Show more amenities
- Good for kids
- Food at bar
- Cozy
- Beer
- Food
- Free water refills
- Offerings· 6
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Happy hour drinks
- Hard liquor
- Private dining room
- Wine
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Facilities· 2
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Dining options· 2
- Seating
- Table service
- Atmosphere· 2
- Casual
- Trendy
- Parking· 4
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- On-site parking
- Usually plenty of parking
- Highlights· 3
- Great beer selection
- Great wine list
- Sports
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Accessibility· 2
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Location
Bars near The Unthank Arms
- William & Florence4.48440.3 mi
chicken leg confit, outside seating area, slow food service
- Oak Tree Norwich4.39670.7 mi£10–20ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
fish and chips, lasagne with garlic bread, pie chips and veg
- St Andrews Brew House4.36441 mi£20–30ReservationsWheelchair accessibleOutdoor seating
chicken supreme, brewery tour, artichoke chips
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Unthank ArmsReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.4863 | — | £20–30 | roast potatoes overcooked and hard, sticky toffee pudding, yorkshire puddings |
| William & Florence | 4.4844 | 0.3 mi | — | chicken leg confit, outside seating area, slow food service |
| Oak Tree NorwichReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.3967 | 0.7 mi | £10–20 | fish and chips, lasagne with garlic bread, pie chips and veg |
| St Andrews Brew HouseReservations · Wheelchair accessible · Outdoor seating | 4.3644 | 1 mi | £20–30 | chicken supreme, brewery tour, artichoke chips |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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