The Beehive

The Beehive - Copyright James M Lambert 2015

Name: The Beehive
Address: 30 Leopold Road, Norwich NR4 7PJ
First Beer Sampled: Oakham Ales Bishop's Fairwell

Another Eaton neighborhood pub is this tastefully represented dandy known as The Beehive.

Although it may have run illegally for a few years before, the pub (of unknown name) started in late August 1898 with the transfer of a beerhouse license from the Bird in Hand, King Street by Steward & Co  in consideration for a new license issued to Caroline Dix for new premises situated at the corner of Melrose and Leopold Roads.  After a few unsuccessful attempts and withdrawn applications, it finally achieved a full license in 1922. It was a tied Courage pub in the 1970s (which as you can see on the above picture of the outdoor signage, the Courage cockerel, read: rooster, still is above it to this day) with the local CAMRA branch regularly meeting there.

The Beehive - Copyright James M Lambert 2015

This is very much a real local pub that is used by customers of all ages. The interior has two rooms, a bar and an eclectic comfortable lounge with leather sofas. There is also a function room upstairs. It plays host to football, golf, darts, pool & rugby clubs and has regular quiz nights and wine tasting evenings. The beer garden outside is popular particularly when barbecues are held during the summer months.

This year, The Beehive won the Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Pub of the Year Award!  Click HERE to read the announcement article ;)

Eaton Cottage

Eaton Cottage - Copyright James M Lambert 2015

Name: Eaton Cottage (Previously Eaton Cottage Tavern, and just plainly, The Eaton)
Address: 75 Mount Pleasant, Norwich NR2 2DQ
First Beer Sampled: Norfolk Brewhouse Moon Gazer IPA

In the Eaton suburb of Norwich, on the corner of Mount Pleasant and Unthank lies a traditional neighborhood pub that screams "proper local" if ever one did.  The outside, in its simple, rustic nature and relatively new red trim (many a few colors have shaded the building over the years, once even being a rather supportive Canary green, yellow and white), outshines the inside in my humble opinion.  But please don't take that negatively... the well lived interior is both calm and relaxing and every bit of what one would expect from a longtime neighborhood watering hole.

First recorded in 1864 with Charles Thomas Read (a grocer by trade) as owner, the torch was carried on by his widow, Emma, for seven years after his death in 1896.  As evident by the keystone artwork above the main corner windows (see below), the was pub was tied to Steward and Patteson for quite some time.  The reference date of 1895 eluding to a possible rebuilding at that time.

                     

As well as a grocers, and the pub it is today, the location has also served as drayman's cottages and an off-license shop.  Dating from around 1900, on the forecourt of the pub (possibly where the beer garden is now?) there was a City Council public toilet used by the drivers of the Norwich Electric Tramway that operated in the city from 1900-1935.

On the front of the building, facing Unthank Road, there is a lovely covered outdoor beer garden which is shrouded in greenery.  There's even a nice large TV broadcasting the day/night sporting events outdoors.  On the inside, there are multiple TVs to watch sports on and even a pool table.

Eaton Cottage Beer Garden - Copyright James M Lambert 2015

Currently, and as such since 2004, one Mr. Philip Birchall has been running the pub.