My gay Norfolk: Alessio Pagliano on the UK’s most historic county
I’ve lived here since… July 2005. I was born and grew up in Italy. I decided to move to the UK for a number of different reasons. I was keen to confront myself with a different culture and improve my English.
I stayed because… Norwich is a beautiful and safe town, full of stunning buildings and churches. With over 1500 heritage buildings from every British era, Norwich’s historical pedigree is unsurpassed. And it’s strategically placed for exploring the unspoiled beauty of the Norfolk countryside. I decided to buy my own property with a large beautiful garden which is keeping me constantly busy and I’m always looking at the next little project (building vegetable beds and chicken coop, refurbishing the pond and so on…). I also met the most amazing man in the world, my soulmate. We are truly and deeply in love and often travel together – this year, we celebrated our birthdays in Borneo and Malaysia.
My favourite queer bar has to be… the (gay-owned) Lollards for its rich character and good attitude. It’s easy to have a chat and a laugh here, and age/shape doesn’t preclude that! You don’t need to be under 30, wear designer clothes or spend 6 days a week in the gym. You will very often find a very good mix of people in there and people of all ages and shapes.
Here in Norwich, I always look forward… spring and summer, as that’s when I can enjoy the beach, the broads and have barbecues and cocktail evenings in the garden. During this period the garden is full of flowers and the veg beds produce a lot!
For date night I head to… Shiki Japanese Restaurant as the quality of the food is amazing. The tempura is the best in the world! Book in advance for a table in the Teppan-Yaki room.
Norwich’s best building is undoubtedly… the Christian Cathedral, a real gem and one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Europe. Its award-winning refectory is something not to be missed. I would strongly recommend a visit to be planned at around 5.30pm for the Evensong, to enjoy their very good choir.
The best thing about the neighborhood I live in is… the fact everyone is ever so friendly and the area extremely quiet and nice. I love the fact that it’s only 10 minutes from the city center and the only sounds you tend to hear are the birds singing. There aren’t any tall buildings around as luckily the area comprises of bungalows only and the large garden is secluded and offers lots of privacy, which was a must for me
For a romantic meal, I head to… the Wildebeest with no hesitation! Fine cuisine where food looks very good and tastes even better. Warm tones, wicker furniture and African artifacts give an exotic touch to the traditional pub exterior and every single plate is unique and very special. Of course, it’s featured in Michelin guides!
For a day trip, we head to… Holkham. It’s a beautiful national nature reserve that comprises a number of rare and precious habitats including salt marsh, sand dunes, pine woodland, beach and grazing marsh. I love its beautiful naturist beach and nature walk and the nearby Holkham Hall and Park deserves a visit as it is a member of the Treasure Houses (consisting of ten of the most magnificent places, houses and castles in England today).
For culture, you can’t miss… the Sainsbury’s Centre for Visual Arts, which is one of the most prominent university art galleries in Britain. The Sainsbury families’ significant donation of the art collection are, together with the Anderson Collection of Art Nouvea and the University’s Abstract Collection, permanent collections.
My favorite place to people-watch is… the Forum, which is a modern glass building among classic Norwich buildings. The library, shop, bar and restaurant attract lots of people and the nearby steps are one of city’s most popular socializing and meeting points. The best spot is definitely the first floor, where you can have a drink/pizza at very reasonable price and enjoy the view and the world go by.
To rent Alessio’s home on Airbnb, click here.
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Jamie Tabberer
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