The bar is to the left and the comfortable lounge
to the right.
Darts are, naturally, played in the bar.

There is a pool/function room upstairs and
a beer garden at the rear.

In recent years, the pub has had a reputation
for serving a range of good Real Ales.

October 2009 advert mentions Wednesday quiz nights,
pool room/function room and Belgian bottled beers.

Norfolk Nips, Autumn 2011 : advert boasts
7 real ales. The website mentions an
'extended' lunch-time menu.

Good Beer Guide 2011.

The pub is often used by participants in sport etc.,
exiting from the adjacent Eaton Park.

See Research re modern extensions.
Overall, then, the pub is a very large one - mirrored by
by a large car-park at the rear; plus a long, yet hardly
narrow, beer garden; and an outdoor play area for children.

The exterior has recently been re-decorated and
re-signed - quite attractively.
However it has to be admitted that, internally,
there is very little evidence of cottage(s) left;
and the character of the pub is almost entirely 'fashionable'.

It is greatly to be hoped that the pub is not demolished,
in favour of using the vast total space for other purposes;
esp. as housing - for example - would suffer badly from
traffic noise on two sides.

Following the demise of S. & P. and Watney's breweries,
by 1990 the pub was being run by the Chef & Brewer chain.
Later the pub was controlled by Scottish & Newcastle.
Adrian Hennessy records ownership of T. K. Taverns
by January 2006.

Continued . . .

By 2007 it was held by Enterprise Inns.
Finally, from 8th October 2007, the pub became a
Free House, under the control of the landlords :
Simon Marsh and Nicola Siggery.

The chequered history of ownerships is reflected in the
many and varied licensees recorded. The predecessor,
Vivian Read, served from 8th December 1998;
i.e. the longest period of service since 1965.

Norfolk Nips, December 2008 reported
3 real ales on offer.
In January 2009 the pub was using two dartboards
- for two teams.
The real ales were from Adnam's ("Best" at £2.65);
Greene King ("Abbot") and Courage "Directors" bitter.

Food is served daily from Midday to 8 p.m.,
except Sundays, when it is served to 6 p.m.

A photograph taken c. 1973 is on page 123 of
NOBBS, George : Pubs to Visit (E. Anglia).

The pub terminates a parade of shops
all built to a pre-WWII architectural plan.
Unsurprisingly, it has had extensive refurbishment
in recent times.

Adrian Hennesssy reported (Jan. 2006) that customers
range from local residents to musicians and students.
It is 'bike-friendly' particularly for the latter.

A full entertainment licence allows live music
most nights, including Tuesday rock/blues
jam session, and Wednesday folk/jazz jam session.
Sky TV shows all football games etc.

There is only 1 handpump in use for real ale.
Pub food is served from 12 midday to 4 p.m. most days.

Continued . . .

A Police raid on 7th November 2008 resulted in
the pub losing its licence.
At the time of the raid, licensees for the past 6 months
- and wrestlers - Julia Hamer and husband Ricky
were living above the premises. Julia, also known as
"Sweet Saraya", formerly kept the Vauxhall Tavern.

The pub was subsequently (2009) sold by
Enterprise Inns for £350,000.

By November the new owners applied to demolish
the toilet block and garage; to be replaced by a
single-storey retail store.

The pub building itself remains, but in October 2010
further planning requests were made to alter the use
to retail shopping (2 units) on the ground floor;
and four apartments at the upper level.