Almost a decade ago Jonny and I had the pleasure of dining in one of Norfolk’s most well thought of restaurants, Morston Hall. Chef Galton Blackiston who runs the business which is also a hotel, had at the time just appeared on the very first series of ‘The Great British Menu’ and we were very excited to try out the celebrity chef’s menu. The prices far exceeded the ability of our purse at the time but we had rather generously been invited to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my Step Mother’s parents. We thought it was amazing and dreamed of one day being able to host our own wedding reception at the venue, or at least being able to go back for dinner! The food was delicious, the surroundings amazing and one day we will go back for a very special weekend treat.

Over time I have met several people who have stayed for the weekend and everyone says they’ve had a fantastic time, I’ve always been a little jealous! My in laws are in fact having their own very special weekend at Morston Hall right now as I type! It is their Ruby wedding anniversary today and they have chosen to stay at the hotel and dine in the restaurant to celebrate. I hope they’re having a fabulous time at the venue I fell in love with after that one brief visit and are soaking up all the North Norfolk coastal charms. Morston Hall is close to Blakeney, it’s a beautiful part of the coast line in North Norfolk. I wish them health, wealth and at least another 40 years of happiness together! What a wonderful way to celebrate!

Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary to Granny and Papa!

It will be our own wedding anniversary soon and we shall be celebrating by having dinner in the restaurant that we DID hold our wedding reception in. When it came to it we decided to hold it at a venue in Portugal so Morston Hall was not going to happen but the restaurant we chose easily stands up to Morston Hall and is JUST as special!

Jonny and I got married on the Algarve, we said our vows in a little church on the beach in Praia Da Luz followed by drinks and photos on the cliffs, a beach party on our favourite beach in Lagos and then our amazing wedding reception at the restaurant we discovered on the first of many holidays to the extremely special Lagos, No Patio.

We fist visited the town of Lagos years ago when we visited for the day from another resort where we were holidaying. We sat on Estudantes beach, a little cove beach, all day and fell head over heels with the area. We decided then and there that Morston Hall, although very high on our priorities for a special occasion visit, was now out of the question for our wedding – when it happened – as Lagos was the place we wanted to get married!

We got our dream wedding in 2009 and 40 family members flew out to be with us, it was truly amazing and the best wedding a girl could ever hope for. We did the legal bit in Norwich followed by a small party in my Mum’s garden and then had our big white day in the sunshine! The party in Norwich was pretty damn amazing but getting married on the Algarve was the flipping cherry on top of a HUGE cake! Jonny and I often talk about what a perfect day we had which was coupled by a brilliant holiday with all our family and friends. Florence was our brides maid and when Father Haynes Hubbard blessed us, he blessed us as a family rather than a couple. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

I loved the ceremony but the party after was spectacular. I loved every minute of being on the beach with everyone where we drank vino verde and larked about on the sand on Estudantes beach… We couldn’t hire the beach but all the same we had it to ourselves. It was wonderful!

And then there was our evening at No Patio! We had the most divine menu: Couvert to start of bread and olives with a pate, sparkling wine and conversation which matched! We ate wonderfully delicious starters followed by lamb for me and creme brulee. Our guests got to choose their own meals from the extensive menu and then Martin, the chef had organised for a chocolate cake for us to cut before we danced the night away. No Patio actually has the most gorgeous patio and that’s where we dined before turning inside for the dancing and partying. I love that restaurant, we’ve been back since of course and will go again this September when we’re on holiday in Lagos again. It’s every bit as good as a fine restaurant in London, was on an absolute par with Morston Hall and if you saw the prices you wouldn’t believe your luck! Roll on September, our third anniversary and yet another fabulous meal or three or four or five…

I have not been paid in any way to write about these two restaurants, I genuinely adore them both and wanted to mention them.

Follow