See separate notes re the 19th Century
and Richard Bristow's website.

After a centuries-long succession of individual
ownerships, companies have taken over in the
20th Century :-
1911 : Maid's Head Hotel Co. Ltd.
1970 : Queens Modern Hotels Ltd.
By 1990 : Queens Moat Houses Plc.
Later : Corus Hotels
2006 : Folio Group
Jan. 2009 : Mulbourn Ltd.

The last individual owner was Henry Lewis Clarke JP,
from February 1895.
He was then licensee; but, after the company was
formed, he remained in situ as Managing Director,
at least until 1935 - with various other names
on the licence.
He was listed as Proprietor as early as 1905.

A pre-mock-tudor photo, of the Wensum St. corner,
is on page 122 of CLUER & SHAW :
Former Norwich; and also on page 76 of
STANDLEY, Philip :
Norwich - Then and Now (part 3).

A photo dated 1901 is on page 28 of FRITH, Francis :
Norwich - Pictorial Memories.
Also an early-20th C. photo is on page 185 of
MEERES, Frank : A History of Norwich.

A photographic record c. 1909 can be found in :
STANDLEY, Philip : Norwich - in old postcards,
Volume 3; and in Volume 1, page 78.
Also in STOREY, Neil R. : Around Norwich, page 46.

The mock-tudor changes were effected circa 1890.
A good view of these was captured pre-WWII on
page 51 of PLUNKETT, George :
Commemorative Collection.

A photo on page 66 of TEMPLE, Clifford : Norwich -
Archive Photo Series, shows the Tombland view of
the Cavell Hotel.

Continued . . .

Much of this photographic evidence points to the fact
that the hotel was always based in Wensum Street, until
the late 19th Century; and that early 20th Century
expansions and take-overs occurred, eastwards,
into Tombland proper.

Adrian Hennessy visited the Snug Bar in December
2003 and found it a quiet haven, away from the often
busy nearby pubs.
Sadly he found only one real ale - Adnam's Bitter.

News broke on 4th December 2008 that current owners,
Folio Hotels Group, had gone into administration.
The Maid's Head is, out of 36 hotels, their only one
in East Anglia.
Since taking over in 2006, the Swindon-based firm has
spent some 2.65 million pounds on restorations; and has
achieved 4-star status in June 2008.

The hotel also won, in the same year, an AA Rosette
(restaurant) in September; and in November the title of
Hotel of the Year from Norfolk Tourism Awards.

A management buy-out, in association with
Mulbourn Limited, occurred in mid-January 2009;
which will hopefully save the business, despite
the current 'down-turn'.

Listed in Woodforde's Pub Guide June 2011.

Also see The Courtyard.

As of 1998, this bar, restaurant and club is
spread over 3 storeys.
The restaurant is on the ground floor,
and the bar on the first floor.

While closed, since early March 2009, the oddly-named
Kitchen & Bar still sports exterior banners
stated in reverse : Bar and Restaurant.

At least, the banners of the previous tenants
have been removed !

This is the latest venture of Sarah-Jane Roberts -
see link to Indulging Gastros Ltd.

Full Licence transferred from the Elm,
Redwell Street on 22nd July 1879.

A photographic record c. 1912 can be found in :
STANDLEY, Philip : Norwich - in old postcards, Vol. 3.
A photo also appears in CLUER & SHAW :
Former Norwich, page 120.

A 1945 photo is on page 189 of MEERES, Frank :
A History of Norwich.

The extensive interior modernisation and redecoration
in Spring 2005, and the change of name, did not prove
successful.
The 'official' closure on 21st December 2007
followed some months of moribund inactivity.

The pub re-opened under its previous name around
26th May 2008; having been thoroughly re-decorated
inside and out.
The chocolate-brown exterior, and some internal
features, give the pub a late-Victorian ("original"?) feel.

Visiting at the end of July 2008, there was only one
one Real Ale pump. Nominally this was for
Woodforde's Wherry, so the term 'Free House'
is given, as it were, by default.
However, the price of bog-standard Foster's was £3.05
It is hard to understand why this could not have been £2.95

Reported in Norfolk Nips, December 2008, the landlord
said he hoped to increase the range of real ales.
Whether this means not having 'Wherry' all the time,
or more than one pump, remains to be seen.

Live DJ on Fridays.

Pub briefly closed by 1st March 2010, and re-opened on
2nd April. The new landlady is also determined to
increase the range of beers.

By August the landlady was as good as her word,
with four regular cask ales on offer.
DJs now operate on Saturday nights, until 1 a.m.
Fridays have "indie" music instead.

There were challenges to the renewal of the music
licence in October 2010, which seemed to cause the pub
to pre-empt the decision : by closing in the middle of
that month.

The fact that the pub re-opened on 25th November, with
much quieter "live" music, suggests that a compromise
has been reached with the City licensing authorities.

New licensees have taken over.

On 13th June 1872 the landlord, Thomas Betts,
was accused of being drunk and riotous.
He gave his address as the Duke of Wellington.

The 1908 Sessions were informed that the house was,
according to the police, small and inconvenient.

There were 9 other licensed houses within 200 yards.
Although the current tenant had only been in place
for two months, the licence was refused.

The pub was accordingly closed, under the
Compensation Act, on 1st September 1908.

In January 2006 Adrian Hennessy observed that the
new owners had changed the bar area very little.
However, there was a gallery/function rooms upstairs,
as well as the crypt area. Artworks are for sale
in the main bar and in the upstairs gallery.

The large TV screen playing pop videos has now been
replaced with 'World' music on the audio system !

Food was served from Midday to 3 p.m. and
6 to 10 p.m., except Sundays.
3 good real ales were on offer.

Norfolk Nips, December 2008, reported a selection of
4 good real ales was available, plus Crones' real cider.
In November 2009 six handpumps were observed;
and an imitation 'real' fire (warm!).

In November 2011 the owner, Nick Barton,
confessed that he would rather the pub was
known as a café/bar than as a local.
On the other hand the pub is rightly famed for its
warm atmosphere and top customer service.

The business started as a co-operative, when running
the café/bar in Suckling House, for Cinema City.
(See Research)  Mr. Barton and his wife
are now the governing partnership.

The pub is in the Good Beer Guide and serves
organic wines, fairtrade wines and coffee,
and most of what it sells is locally produced.

Mr. Barton emphasises that his small, family business
is quite different from the many café chains in the City.