North Norfolk pub retains prestige award

An award-winning north Norfolk gastropub has retained its most prestigious award for the ninth year running.The Walpole Arms, at Itteringham, is one of only five establishments in Norfolk to hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and one of only 117 in the UK to receive the accolade in the new 2010 Michelin Guide.

An award-winning north Norfolk gastropub has retained its most prestigious award for the ninth year running.

The Walpole Arms, at Itteringham, is one of only five establishments in Norfolk to hold a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and one of only 117 in the UK to receive the accolade in the new 2010 Michelin Guide.

It is second year in which head chef Jamie Guy, who took over in November 2007, has won the award in his own right, having been part of the award-winning team in previous years.

The Bib Gourmand is awarded for 'good food at moderate prices' - which in the Michelin Guide means a three-course meal for less than �28. Each establishment is secretly inspected.

Alan Sayers, who runs the pub with his wife Cheryl, said the award was more important than ever in the current economic climate.

'To meet the exacting standards of the Michelin inspectors within a defined price is exactly what people are looking for in these tough economic times,' he said.

'People do still want to go out and eat - but they want to know that they are getting the best value when they are spending their hard-earned cash.'