The Kitchen at St George's Distillery

England hadn’t had a whisky distillery for more than 100 years when St George’s opened its doors in 2007, but peaty Norfolk is surely the right place for a renaissance. Aficionados can take the tour and inspect the stills, but for those who are happy to let the alchemy happen behind closed doors, there’s a fantastic cafe instead.

Tucked at the back of the whisky emporium (featuring more than 200 different types), the Kitchen serves up an enticing range of light bites and mains. Efficient, friendly staff usher you to tables in the modern cafe before ferrying over hearty plates. The sharing boards are particularly recommended. Whisky has found its way into some of the chutneys, marmalades and sauces, but the menu by no means overworks it: beef dripping fries and butterflied chicken sit next to crab linguine and a Norfolk ploughman’s.

Don’t let the talk of spirits put families off – children are welcome and tables on the terrace mean they can play nearby on the lawn.