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Champion, Norwich

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user reviews of Champion, Norwich

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Lovely cosy and welcoming little boozer. Sadly I feel, like many UK pubs, it is in need of a few more customers if it is to avoid closure. I very much hope I'm wrong in this conclusion.
dougdeep - 19 Sep 2012 11:04
The Champion was the first stop on our swift Norwich trip yesterday. It's a fairly small locals pub on the edge of the shopping area. Boxing pictures line the walls. Our beer of choice - Oldershaw Heavenly Blonde went off as soon as we arrived, leaving Woodfordes Wherry, Hook Norton Old Hooky & Batemans XB. A real cider - Thatchers Heritage was also on. A friendly enough place.
blue_scrumpy - 8 Apr 2012 10:54
Friendly, well-kept pub with a good range of real ales - three from Bateman, and two guests on my visit. The Dark Mild was in excellent condition, and the lunch (pub staples, ca. �5) was good too. There was steady custom throughout the afternoon and it became busier in the evening.

The place was spotlessly clean throughout and with a welcoming atmosphere - not something I find too often in city centre pubs. There is even a cat-flap in the door to the toilets - they think of everything! I must bring Mrs. Slocombe next time.

No problems experienced in locating the pub. Umpteen buses from the railway station stop nearby in St. Stephen's St.
apchilcott - 22 Dec 2009 12:59
A speedy pint of Nelsons Revenge was had because as soon as we sat down it appeared to be about to kick off in the pub. My mate also had to take back his undrinkable Batemans DM (Dark Mild). To be fair it was changed straight away for him. On this visit it certainly was not the friendly community pub I experienced on my last visit. I will have to review my previous Bite score from this visit.
Love_good_ale - 20 Aug 2009 12:41
I once voted for the Champion for Norwich pub of the year. Declined slightly since the old landlord left and Bateman's took over, but still one of the better boozers in the city centre area. Mix of drinkers but always friendly. Well worth stopping off at, but for a lengthy session I'd move on to the Coachmakers, Trafford or KIngs Arms.
Stare_Smokovec - 26 Jun 2009 12:17
Visited pub monday while in Norwich, very friendly and great beer.
pinkyroyal - 28 Apr 2009 20:23
Smallish Bateman's pub just round the corner from The Coachmakers, close to the remains of the old city walls.

It's a bare boarded L shaped pub with 2 interconnecting rooms and a reasonably traditional feel.

There's a smallish outside drinking area - some seats on the pavement at the side.

The Bateman's XB at � 2.50p per pint was an excellent pint.

I found this a pleasant, but unremarkable pub and probably not one to go far out of your way to find.
JohnBonser - 16 Apr 2009 13:25
Bateman's pub, just outside the city walls and near the bus station. Choice of 5 real ales, and the XB was on good form. Only niggle is the slightly annoying piped (jazz) music, otherwise a very decent place for a pint.
rpadam - 24 Sep 2008 00:06
A friendly Batemans pub that appeared to be a real community pub. The customers were also very friendly and nice people. 5 hand pumped ales were available, 2 Batemans and 3 genuine guests. XB, XXXB, Nelson's Revenge, Wherry and Tom Woods were available. We only stayed for a pint but the Nelson's Revenge was very nice.
Love_good_ale - 23 Mar 2008 19:20
Slumped badly when Batemans took over but now getting back to it's best, a small 'no frills' pub opposite the old City walls, a good range of real ales, friendly and knowledgeable staff. The daytime regulars tend to be of middle to senior age and it's been said if a script writter were to spend a week in the corner making notes he's have an award winning sitcom on his hands! Some of Norwich's finest characters frequent this old pub with a boxing history, Daniel Mendoza, adorns the outside with numerous boxing photos inside. Well worth a try!
DanielMendoza - 23 Jan 2008 15:18
Paid a visit here and was very impressed. Good range of beers (mostly local) and even the draught lagers were unusual brands. Friendly landlord. Certainly consider another visit when I'm next in the area.
Rod_Hariga - 17 Aug 2007 14:31
Went here after playing a local squash team, they put on a lovely spread - lots of chips and chilli, and a bucketful of sarnies. However, felt a bit on the gloomy side.
The_Ace - 30 Jun 2007 15:30
Maybe it was an off night, but i found this Pub distinctly odd. Beer, although acceptable was nothing special, and I couldn't wait to finish mt pint and go. As i say, maybe it was a bad night...
ahscum - 24 Feb 2007 15:58
Very nice little freindly pub , good selection of beer is always on form. Don and Pat are always welcoming.
trekman - 4 Sep 2005 21:53
A gem of a pub situated on the very edge of the city centre, a fact which is both an advantage and a curse: beneficially its isolation means it is never packed or frequented by drunken yobs/Chav tarts (there are Spoons in town for them), but on the downside it can be easily missed by the casual visitor to Norwich.

This latter point is a shame as it has bags of distinctive character crammed into its smallish interior and serves a huge range of cask ales alongside a good lager selection. To top it all off the locals are friendly, the staff quick and the bar snacks plentiful. A great 10/10.

anonymous - 31 Mar 2005 16:16

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