Celebrating 30 years of ACI
30 years and counting...
It gives us great pleasure to announce that we have reached a rather special milestone for our family business - Anglian Country Inns is celebrating its 30th birthday!
What started with one little pub on the north Norfolk coast has grown into a family of independent pubs and restaurants across Norfolk and Hertfordshire. Three decades, a few challenges and plenty of giddy highs later, we’re still doing what we set out to do in 1996 - bringing people together over great food and making them happy.
A huge thank you to our brilliant team, who make it happen day in, day out.
Where we started
From The Lobster Pot to The White Horse and beyond
"It all started back in 1996 when Dad bought a run-down little pub on the north Norfolk coast called The Lobster Pot, with the main aim of bringing people together over great food and having a bit of fun.
We spent that warm summer as a family (and with the help of some friends) renovating the pub, bringing back the original name and finally opening the doors for the first time in October as The White Horse, with mussels and oysters from the village on the menu."
James & Howard Nye
Award-winning team
"We have been fortunate to work with some of the best and we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing teams."
"People have always been at the core of everything we’ve done. Dad has always had a knack of attracting good people - he taught us to treat them like family which has made a huge difference over the years.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped build the business over the last three decades and make so many people happy. Cheers to you all!"
Along the way, our venues have been recognised by The Michelin Guide, The Good Food Guide and AA Rosettes, and we’ve been named a Best Employer and one of the Happiest Places to Work in Hospitality.
Our timeline
Expanding the ACI family
Over the last 30 years, we have curated a beautiful collection of 10 award-winning, independent pubs and restaurants with great hospitality at the heart of them, all part of the ACI family.
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White Horse Brancaster, Oct 1996
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The Fox at Willian, Dec 2004
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The Jolly Sailors, Feb 2009
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Hermitage Rd., Oct 2011
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The Cricketers at Weston, Dec 2014
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The Kings Head, Jun 2016
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Farmhouse at Redcoats, Jun 2017
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The Lytton Arms, May 2018
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The Barns at Redcoats, 2018
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White Horse Holme, Apr 2024
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The White Horse Bakery, 2025
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Let the celebrations begin
Raise a glass with us
Dad, the two of us and all our teams will be raising a glass to 30 years over the next few months, and we’d love you to join us. We’re celebrating across our venues, with a few surprises along the way, starting with a special November menu that nods to our 1996 roots.
Keep an eye out for all our upcoming events and celebrations on our socials and in our newsletter.
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Anglian Country Inns
