GOTHIC HOUSE NORWICH

You’ll have two hosts when you lay your head at Gothic House: proprietor Clive Harvey and his friendly black cat, Khmer. Both are brilliant characters who help to give the Grade-II townhouse a homely feel. Watch Khmer as he slinks around the breakfast table or listen to Harvey’s stories of the building’s past. Legend goes that when it was first built in the 1800s, it was frequented by the mistress of a wealthy local merchant. More recently Harvey saved the building from disrepair, restoring and filling it with framed prints, silver coffee pots and Portmeirion china. These all lend a distinct period feel to the house and its two floralwallpapered guest rooms. Freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast goes down a treat with smoked haddock Florentine. Doubles from £95. gothic-house-norwich.com