Pubs by Boat · Hickling Broad
The Pleasure Boat Inn, Hickling, riverside pub with moorings on the Hickling Broad
At Hickling Staithe at the head of Hickling Broad, the wild upper reach of the Thurne system.
Mooring by boat
Free moorings sit right outside for pub customers, reportedly usable for up to 48 hours, with free 24-hour Broads Authority moorings close by. Day boats moor on the pub side of the dyke.
Everything above Potter Heigham depends on clearing the medieval bridge there, just 6ft 6in at average high water, with the pilot. Plan the bridge first and Hickling second.
Check before you go: No fixed mooring count is published; capacity needs confirming with the pub.
About the pub
An iconic staithe-side inn owned by Norfolk Wildlife Trust and run by the team behind the White Horse Neatishead and the Lion at Thurne. It reopened after refurbishment in 2024 with two regular and up to four changing ales, a large waterside garden, barista coffee and a free car park. Dog-friendly.
What visitors tend to say
Post-refurbishment reports are strong: a fresh look, attentive staff, a well-balanced menu and a garden over the broad that people describe as genuinely peaceful, with one dissenting note about loud garden music.
Nearest hire base: Potter Heigham or Stalham; Hickling is a scenic dead-end broad that rewards the detour.
Find it on the water
Navigator Lite puts every riverside pub, mooring and slipway on one friendly map, so you can plan the day around lunch here and know exactly where to tie up.
Guidance Only
Opening hours, food service, mooring charges and mooring condition change often on the Broads. Check with the pub directly before building your day around it, and always read the water on arrival.