Come Hungry to the Broads this autumn

Come hungry. Not just for the food – although there’s plenty of that. Come hungry for big skies, quiet rivers, local flavours, cosy pubs and the chance to slow down for a while.

Autumn is a lovely time to discover the Broads. The waterways are quieter, the landscape starts to change colour and there’s something particularly appealing about spending a day outdoors when you know a good meal and a warm welcome are waiting at the end of it.

Across Norfolk and Suffolk, the Come Hungry campaign is celebrating the region as the Home of the Harvest – and in the Broads, food, landscape and local character are never far apart.

Taste the landscape

The Broads sits at the heart of one of the country’s great food-producing regions.

The surrounding farmland produces seasonal fruit and vegetables, the grazing marshes are home to cattle and the nearby coast brings fresh fish and seafood into the region. Add local cheeses, breads, honey and preserves and there is plenty to fill a picnic basket – or a table.

Independent butchers, bakeries, delis, markets and farm shops can be found across the area, alongside local breweries, vineyards and other producers.

Check out places to eat and drink here.

Eat by the water

One of the pleasures of the Broads is the number of places where lunch or dinner becomes part of the day itself.

Cruise to a riverside pub, find a café after a morning walk or settle beside the water with a drink and watch the boats drift past.

From traditional village pubs and waterside restaurants to independent cafés and tearooms, there are plenty of places to build a day around good food.

Make the journey part of the meal

In the Broads, getting there can be half the fun.

You might travel by boat to a riverside pub, cycle between villages with a café stop along the way, or walk beside the river before rewarding yourself with lunch.

Explore towns such as Beccles, or villages including Horning, Ludham, Reedham, Loddon and Coltishall, where food, drink and the water are never very far apart.

There’s no need for a complicated itinerary. Pick somewhere you’d like to eat, find something interesting nearby and leave plenty of time to enjoy both.

Come hungry for more

Because an autumn visit to the Broads is about more than food.

Come hungry for windmills across the reeds, wildlife along the riverbank, historic villages, market towns and quiet stretches of water.

Come hungry for a bike ride, a riverside walk, a few hours on a boat or simply an afternoon with nowhere urgent to be.

Autumn brings a different rhythm to the Broads, with quieter places, changing colours and cooler days that are ideal for exploring.

Then, when you’ve worked up an appetite, there is always somewhere welcoming to stop.

Check out “Things to Do” here

Stay a little longer

Turn your food discoveries into an autumn short break and take your time exploring different parts of the Broads.

Stay aboard a cruiser, choose a waterside cottage, book a hotel or settle into one of the area’s holiday parks, lodges or independent places to stay.

Leave room for an unplanned pub lunch, a farm shop you spot along the way or a café that looks too tempting to pass.

Sometimes the best parts of a break are simply finding somewhere lovely, ordering something local and deciding there’s no reason to hurry.

Check out “Where to Stay” here

Come hungry to the Broads this autumn – for local flavours, beautiful places and plenty more besides.

FAQs

Which Visit the Broads members are passionate producers of food and drink?

Flint Vineyard in Earsham, near Bungay. Founded in 2016 and set in over 30 hectares, produce both still and sparkling wines. Flint Tours are available and the Flint Kitchen offer light lunches and a monthly Supper Club with menus, as you would expect, highlighting locally sourced, seasonal produce.
Woodforde’s Brewery, found in the village of Woodbastwick, close to Salhouse Broad. The Brewery, founded in 1981, produces renowned beers such as Wherry and Nelson’s Revenge as well as a host of other award winning beers, including seasonal beers such as Tinsel Toes! Tours are available and a visit to their Brewery Tap, the Fur and Feathers, for a taster and a bite of lunch or dinner is not to be missed.
A G Meale and Sons Ltd in Stalham – famous for delicious homegrown tomatoes, soft fruits, plums and runner beans. Consider getting out on the water before the end of October by hiring a day boat from nearby Richardsons. Autumn is a magical time to experience the beauty and tranquillity of the Broads.
Humpty Dumpty Brewery in Reedham. This brewery was established in 1998 and has a shop where their 2026 CAMRA Champion Bottled Beer of Norfolk Broadland Sunrise and Festbier can be purchased. The shop also supports local guest craft ciders, gins, cookies, chocolates, sauces, oils, cookies, honey and preserves. So something local for everyone!

Which Visit the Broads members are passionate about promoting the wealth of seasonal, locally produced foods on their menus?

Waveney Inn Restaurant and Pub near Beccles. They support local butchers, Pepperells in Harleston and Punny Bun Bakehouse in Lowestoft. Explore Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve whilst visiting.
WinePress Restaurant, situated in the historic courtyard of the Maids Head Hotel in Norwich, where, in the 1780’s, the first mail coach arrived from London. Guests can opt to dine from either the Rosette or 6 course Tasting menu which changes with the seasons and firmly supports local producers.
The White Heron found alongside the River Yare in Brundall. This newly refurbished popular pub serves food all day. They also boast a number of visitor mooring spaces available to pre-book for boating holidaymakers.
The Angel Inn located in the heart of Loddon. It is the oldest pub in the village deriving its name from the artisan craftsmen who came to build the Holy Trinity Church, some 500 years ago. Their aim, to continue that tradition of passion and skill for one’s art. This could be “the hand -planed table at which you sit, the stone-ground flour in your pastry or the slow roasted coffee, fine wine, craft ale or cider you imbibe”. Their motto, “If it’s not crafted, it’s not here!”
The Dog at Ludham Bridge proudly serves a range of locally sourced home-cooked meals which can be accompanied by a range of ales from local micro-breweries. The pub offers fine views over Thurne Mill and St Benets Abbey.