Planning Cluster · Pubs
Norfolk Broads pubs by boat
A river-by-river guide to the riverside inns you can cruise right up to, with the moorings, tides and bridges that decide whether the day goes smoothly.
The Norfolk Broads is one of the few places in Britain where going to the pub by boat is the whole point of the holiday. There are 125 miles of largely lock-free, navigable waterways, with dozens of genuine waterside pubs you can cruise straight up to. But the quality of the visit hinges on mooring availability and getting the tide and bridges right — the busiest spots fill by late morning, and several of the best pubs sit beyond low bridges or across the tidal Breydon Water crossing.
What decides a good pub day on the Broads
- Moorings are the deciding factor, not the menu. Some pubs own patron moorings (the Ferry House at Surlingham, the Bell at St Olaves), some sit beside free public moorings (Coltishall Common, the Locks Inn), some charge a fee redeemable against food (the Commodore), and others mean mooring at a village staithe and walking (Ranworth, Ludham, Loddon, Somerleyton). At honeypots, arrive 10–11am for lunch or 2–3pm for an overnight berth.
- Bridges gate whole sections of the network. Potter Heigham (6ft 6in at average high water) and Wroxham Bridge (7ft 3in) both effectively require the bridge pilot for hire craft, and clearance changes constantly with the tide.
- The North–South divide runs through Breydon Water. Moving between the Bure, Ant and Thurne and the Yare, Chet and Waveney means crossing tidal Breydon and passing Great Yarmouth's low bridges — only safe in a window around slack or low water.
- The pub scene is in flux. Several pubs have recently closed, reopened or changed hands — the Ship Inn at South Walsham is now permanently closed and converted to a home — so check current status before you set off and carry a backup option for dinner.
We keep a full guide page for each of the main moorable venues, covering exactly how to moor, the current fees, tide advice for the approach and what the pub is actually like. Click any pub name below to read its full guide.
Northern Broads
The Rivers Bure, Ant and Thurne, served by hire bases at Wroxham, Horning, Stalham, Ludham and Potter Heigham — the busy hire-boat heartland.
River Bure — upper river: Coltishall & Wroxham
Navigation noteThe single gating constraint is Wroxham Bridge, a semicircular road bridge built in 1619 with 7ft 3in headroom at average high water and strong currents. Hire craft must use the bridge pilot. This is the classic case for bridge-clearance prediction.
230-metre free 24-hour Broads Authority stretch on Coltishall Common, first-come
Riverside garden and terrace, pub classics plus signature wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, Adnams and Woodforde's. Dog-friendly, with four B&B rooms. Reached only by passing under Wroxham Bridge.
Same free 24-hour Coltishall Common moorings
The area's fine-dining standout, a 17th-century inn with Dutch gables, an award-winning chef and strong local seafood. A quieter dining alternative next door to the Rising Sun.
A few free moorings plus an adjacent free local-authority stretch
Greene King pub-hotel immediately beside Wroxham Bridge with a beer garden over the water. Family- and dog-friendly. The natural place to pause and weigh up the bridge.
The Wroxham Hotel, Wroxham
Own moorings, charged (around £12–£20/night)
On the downstream side of the bridge in the heart of Wroxham, with a popular river terrace. Central mooring is tight, so arrive early.
River Bure — middle river: Horning & Ranworth
Navigation noteMoorings in Horning are famously scarce in summer. Ranworth Staithe fills fast and needs stern-on mooring (£12 overnight, £5 until 5pm since 2023). Time arrivals mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Note: the Ship Inn at South Walsham is permanently closed (converted to a home, change of use approved 05-11-2025) — plan around Ranworth and Horning instead.
Moorings beside the beer garden, described as free by several guides — fills very early
One of the Broads' most famous riverside pubs on a sharp bend, setting for Arthur Ransome's Coot Club. A 17th-century thatched core, four ales, log fires and a big riverfront garden. Dog-friendly.
Eight stern-on moorings, bookable in advance (~£10 refunded against dining reported)
Traditional family pub, recently refurbished, with a large heated riverside terrace, a small day-boat basin, children's arcade and noted Sunday roasts. A quieter alternative to the Swan.
Long patron-only mooring frontage; ~£20 overnight reported, no electric or water, double-mooring possible
A big family diner famous for its carvery, with riverside gardens, a play area, live entertainment and at least four real ales. The most child-focused of the Horning trio.
Ranworth Staithe opposite: £12 overnight or £5 until 5pm, stern-on, no reservations
Terrace and garden over Malthouse Broad with a garden pizza oven, family- and dog-friendly. Closed briefly in 2023 but trading again under local owners — a few minutes' walk from the staithe.
River Bure — lower river: Acle & Stokesby
Navigation noteAcle Bridge has generous clearance, but beyond Acle the Bure is tidal heading toward Yarmouth, and safe moorings thin out. Approach Stokesby against the tide.
Twelve on-site moorings, free by day, £12.50/night from 5pm (non-refundable, no reservations)
A premier boating pub beside Acle Bridge with overflow space just under the bridge, a big garden, play area, a distinctive round dining room and a family menu. One of the easiest, best-equipped mooring pubs on the Broads.
Garden-side customer moorings for roughly 3–4 boats (£5/night reported), BA mooring nearby
More riverside restaurant than boozer, with a large garden, play area, games room and a counter selling homemade cakes and chocolates. This stretch is tidal, so approach against the tide.
River Ant — Ludham Bridge, Barton Broad & up to Wayford
Navigation noteWayford Bridge has 7ft (2.13m) at average high water with minimal tidal rise. Ludham Bridge is a congested bottleneck with a blind bend.
The Dog Inn, Ludham Bridge
Free Broads Authority moorings both banks above the bridge
Centuries-old pub a 500m walk from the bridge, recently refurbished. Home-cooked food, local ales, big garden with marsh views, play area and summer live music.
The White Horse Inn, Neatishead
Limited free 24-hour moorings at Neatishead Staithe (tight, reverse in)
A celebrated brew-pub off Barton Broad with its own brewery and gin range, excellent food (book ahead) and a wide ale range. The narrow approach rewards careful navigation.
Free public moorings — the hotel says up to 40 boats; independent guides suggest 20–24 usable
One of the best first- or last-night stops, 20–40 minutes from Stalham. Bar and restaurant with a popular Sunday carvery and local ales; book to eat.
Wayford Bridge Inn, Wayford Bridge
Chargeable by the hotel; free moorings the far side of the bridge
At the navigable head of the Ant, with gardens and a patio over the river, bistro and à la carte dining. Check clearance before passing under Wayford Bridge.
River Thurne — Thurne, Potter Heigham, Hickling & Ludham
Navigation notePotter Heigham's medieval bridge is exactly 6ft 6in at average high water — too low for holidaymakers to take their own boats through. A pilot service operates, and everything above (Hickling, Horsey, Martham) depends on getting under it. The textbook scenario for clearance prediction.
Moorings both sides of Thurne Dyke for ~35 boats per the pub; small public-mooring fee, cheaper paid at the pub before 6pm
A multi-award-winning freehouse with one of the largest ale and gin selections on the Broads (locally brewed Pell & Co house ales), wood-fired pizzas, a substantial gluten-free and vegan menu and live music May–September. An outstanding, easy-to-moor stop.
The Norada Grill & Tavern, Potter Heigham
Free 24-hour moorings on the Repps bank and at boatyards
Beside the river just below Potter Heigham bridge, closest to the village moorings. Homemade food with a pizza speciality, play area and riverside terrace.
Free customer moorings right outside (reported up to 48 hours), plus free 24-hour BA moorings nearby
An iconic pub on the edge of Hickling Broad, owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust and reopened in 2024 after refurbishment. Freshly cooked food, real ales, barista coffee and a blissful waterside garden. Clear Potter Heigham bridge first.
Womack Staithe: free until 5pm, then an overnight fee; ~5-minute walk to the pub
A family-run pub and carvery in the same hands since 1989, with four changing ales, a large patio and a play area. Reach it up Womack Dyke, then a short walk. Limited moorings, so arrive early.
Southern Broads
The Rivers Yare, Chet and Waveney plus Oulton Broad, served from Brundall, Loddon, Reedham, Beccles and Oulton Broad — quieter and more strongly tidal, so approach moorings against the tide.
River Yare — Brundall, Surlingham, Rockland & Reedham
Navigation noteBelow Reedham the Yare is strongly tidal and remote, leading to Berney Arms and the Breydon crossing. Always moor against the tide and allow extra rope for several feet of rise and fall.
Plentiful patron stern-on moorings, effectively free with custom; booking advised
A riverside tavern on a wide stretch of the Yare with an exceptional local drinks list (Woodforde's, Humpty Dumpty, Lacons, Winbirri wines), homemade pies and generous roasts. Reachable from Brundall by water only. Often closed Mon–Tue.
Free patron moorings right outside — stern-on with a mud weight; shore power on request
One of the oldest pubs in the area, with free fishing, a log fire and famously generous home-cooked food noon–9pm. Widely rated among the best on the southern Broads. Moor with care — some frontage has deteriorated.
Free patron moorings on the Yare — but check current status before you go
A large, remote riverside pub with home-cooked food, a big garden and play area. A long-running licensing dispute history means opening reliability and mooring terms are worth confirming ahead.
Pre-bookable visitor moorings outside (chargeable)
The rebranded former Yare on Brundall's Riverside Estate: newly refurbished, stylish, pet-friendly riverside dining right among the boatyards of the southern hire hub.
Rockland Staithe opposite (free overnight reported), short walk
A village gastropub off Rockland Broad via Short or Fleet Dyke, with changing local ales, generous well-cooked plates and good Sunday roasts. Typically closed Mondays.
The Ship Inn, Reedham
Free Broads Authority quay moorings or pub moorings
A family-friendly riverside pub on Reedham's quay since 1826, with a big beer garden, play area, real ales and live music. The Yare runs fast here — moor against the tide.
Patron moorings both sides of the chain ferry — parts upstream in poor repair, moor with care
A 16th/17th-century inn run by the Archer family since 1949, beside Norfolk's last working chain ferry. Local fish and game, Woodforde's and Humpty Dumpty ales. The last comfortable mooring cluster before the remote run to Breydon.
River Chet — Loddon & Chedgrave
Navigation noteA narrow, tidal, lock-free dead-end with tight bends but no bridge issues; the turning area is at Loddon Basin. Note: part of the Pye's Mill mooring has been fenced off since June 2024 — check availability.
Free 24-hour Loddon Staithe (electric points, toilets, showers), a few minutes' walk
The area's food-led standout — an AA-Rosette-recognised seasonal menu in a former coaching inn, with local ales, a courtyard garden and boutique rooms. Family- and dog-friendly.
Free 24-hour Loddon Staithe, short walk
A traditional pub doubling as a continental-style café, with an in-pub coffee bar, local craft ales, Harris & James gelato and cakes. As good for elevenses as for an evening pint.
The White Horse, Chedgrave
Free Loddon staithe, ~150 yards
A friendly village pub serving fresh British food under a new operator since 2024, with a large beer garden, play equipment and four regular real ales.
River Waveney & Oulton Broad — St Olaves, Somerleyton, Beccles, Geldeston & Oulton Broad
Navigation noteThe natural wait-for-the-tide stops before or after the Breydon crossing from the south. Beccles, Somerleyton and Oulton Broad sit on or near the Suffolk side of the network.
Own stern-on moorings on the Waveney, free public staithe a short walk away
Reputedly Broadland's oldest recorded pub, parts dating to around 1520, with real fires, four ales and a huge riverside lawn. Superbly placed as a wait-for-the-tide stop for Breydon — approach against the tide.
Large marina — short stays free, longer ~£10–£14 incl. showers and water
The southern Broads' premier waterside pub at the Waveney River Centre (QAB-accredited 2025), with a huge deck over the marshes, locally sourced food and Adnams ales. A genuine destination and a logical Breydon staging post.
Free 24-hour Broads Authority moorings adjacent, with a floating pontoon for low tide
A famously remote, candle-lit pub around a 1560 mill keeper's cottage at the limit of Waveney navigation, community-owned since 2020. Local ales, honest food, live music. A true Broads pilgrimage.
Beccles Yacht Station (charged) a short walk; own moorings unconfirmed
A 16th-century riverside hotel on Puddingmoor with a big terrace over the Waveney, two changing cask ales and relaxed riverside dining. Dogs welcome on the terrace.
Somerleyton Staithe: 28 boats with double-mooring, electric hook-up, free 24 hours; 10–15 min walk up
A gastropub owned by the Somerleyton Estate, with estate-sourced seasonal food, CAMRA-recognised ales, woodburners and beer gardens with marsh views. The high-end dining walk of the Waveney.
Own moorings, £10/night redeemable against food
A refurbished waterside pub with panoramic views over the broad, seafood specials, a beer garden to the water's edge and live music Fridays and Saturdays. The most easterly pub stop on the network.
Own moorings, chargeable from £10/night
A Victorian broadside hotel with a terrace and carvery restaurant overlooking the water, B&B rooms and a dog-friendly lounge. A comfortable overnight base for the southern rivers.
Crossing between North and South: Breydon Water
If your pub plan spans both halves of the Broads, you'll cross Breydon Waterand pass through Great Yarmouth — the single most timing-critical passage on the system. Breydon is a roughly four-mile tidal estuary: stay inside the marked channel (red and green posts) or risk grounding on the mud. The two low bridges at Yarmouth (Vauxhall railway bridge 6ft 9in and the Yarmouth/Acle Road bridge 7ft at average high water) plus strong tides mean you should aim to pass at or just after slack or low water — roughly one hour before to two hours after the low water times at Yarmouth.
The last safe moorings before the crossing are Berney Arms (Yare side) and Burgh Castle (Waveney side) heading north, and the Stracey Arms on the lower Bure heading south. Never cross in fog or strong cross-winds, and contact the Yacht Station or Broads Control if in doubt. For any North–South trip, build the Breydon crossing first and plan the rest around it.
Time the bridges and the crossing
Navigator Pro works backwards from the tide to give you Breydon crossing windows and safe multi-bridge departure times, so you arrive with both clearance and slack current.
Frequently asked questions
Many do, including the Lion at Thurne, Sutton Staithe, the Acle Bridge Inn (free by day), the Bell Inn at St Olaves and the Locks Inn at Geldeston, all with reliable free or short-stay moorings. Honeypots like Horning, Ranworth and Wroxham have moorings too but fill fast in season.
Guidance Only
Pub status, opening hours, food service and mooring charges change frequently on the Broads, and bridge clearances are average-high-water figures that shift with tide, wind and rainfall. Always check directly and read the gauge boards before relying on a specific pub or passage.