Situated near North Norfolk’s rugged coastline, The Harper Hotel is the ideal spot for a staycation. An easy two and a bit hours drive from London, it’s perfectly positioned for a weekend of R&R, and offers everything you’ll need to unwind on-site.
Before checking in we’d recommend a bracing walk by the sea and a warming lunch in nearby The Salthouse Dun Cow. When we visited it was full of well-behaved doggos and offered a delicious menu with the likes of fresh oysters, haddock and chips, and Spanish fish stew.
Suitably sated, we head over to The Harper Hotel to get acquainted with our room for the weekend. At reception we notice little figurines, and we’re informed of the hotel’s history as a former glass-blowing factory. These days it’s home to 32 boutique rooms, centred around a central courtyard. Categorised as big, bigger and biggest, we were staying in the later, which really is pretty roomy. A modern four-poster bed is accompanied by two armchairs and bright yellow anglepoise floor lamp.
But what makes it really special are the little extras. Included in your room rate are pre-mixed negronis, soft drinks, popcorn and snacks, as well as the ubiquitous coffee pods, milk and water. The bathroom is stocked with organic Irene Forte products, and features double sinks and a spacious rainfall shower.
And tempting as it is to stay put all night, we were raring to check out the rest of the hotel’s cosy corners. We kicked off our evening in the bar, with a spicy margarita and a game of pool, where staff bought us little morsels to try, such as homemade pork scratchings.
However, the main draw has to be the self-service wine dispensers, that are activated via your room key. Whether you want a sample, small or large glass, there’s a top selection of fine wines to work your way through during your stay. Extra enjoyable drunk by one of the many log burner fires, we found ourselves returning to the “adults vending machine” again and again.
We love the “dine-anywhere” philosophy at The Harper, however dinner is served in Stanley’s, where the menu celebrates the location, featuring local producers and ingredients from land and sea. We were impressed, tucking into beautifully presented sirloin tartare, with capers and egg yolk; barbequed leek with potato and shavings of black truffle; and cod with mussels, dill and salsify. It managed the difficult feat of being hearty and satisfying, without becoming so rich you’re incapable of moving for the rest of the evening (something so many hotels are guilty of).
Post-dinner, the place is packed with cosy sofas, Taschen coffee table books and board games, but if you do decide to retire, don’t forget to pick up ice for those in-room cocktails.
The next day breakfast is served back at Stanley’s — we recommend the bacon, avocado and poached egg on toast — and there’s also the option to enjoy the small but perfectly formed spa. Complete with pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, the space is bookable, so you get to enjoy it all by yourself. A hangover from covid, it proved so popular with guests that they kept the system in place.
With so much on offer, we think The Harper is a fantastic treat — particularly if you want to go full hermit for the weekend.
