"This used to be my favourite pub in Norwich back in the early 80’s when I used to visit a friend who was at UEA at the time. Not only because it was a forerunner for real ale back then, but also because visits were with a level of jeopardy as the landlord and his cronies didn’t like students. Well, first time back in the best part of 40 years and fortunately a lot more inclusive from my remembrances it looked like students were even working the bar , I thought it was still a thoroughly good pub. The front section houses the main bar that accommodates vertical drinking and then off this to the left is a collection of seating areas separated by exposed beams of some age with a fair few nooks and crannies to hide yourself away in. And it’s not until you get to the larger room at the back that it opens out into one large space. This section is dominated by large flat screens and surround sound for the sport and is where most people interested in the football position themselves. I think they also have live bands in this section. Back in the 80’s, as well as being dual named as it still is today it was also famous for having a double sided pub sign with an innocent looking gardener chap on the side as you walk up the hill, and then a sinister dark figure on the other side depicting the name the pub takes from the incident that took place in the pub in 1895. Sadly that seems to have disappeared and the pub is currently sign less from what I could see. One thing that is unchanged from my remembrances, and is probably enhanced is the collection of famous murderers that adorn all the walls and surfaces and quite a few I remember are still in situ, but now including many others such as a photo of Reg and Ronnie Cray, which is apt as they owned a house in nearby Attleborough during their reign of terror and Ronnie actually passed away in a hotel in Norwich, nor far from this pub. Another thing that seems unchanged is a focus on real ale and the bar supports 12 handpumps and 11 were on the go for my visit with nine ales and two ciders available. On the ale front seven were from East Anglia in the form of three from the nearby Wolf Brewery Murderers Ale, Silver Fox and Edith Cavell , Grain Brewery Chevallier 47 , Beccles Brewery Sky PA , Mr Winters Vanilla Latte Stout, and Adnams Ghost Ship. Then from further afield there was Parkway Brewing Co. Pirates Pet and Listers Springtime. I went for the Mr Winters Vanilla Latte Stout and very good it was too. I wanted to like this pub again, and I did, in spades…"
