Fans of 60s artist Bridget Riley are in for a treat this summer with an exhibition that has just opened at Narborough Hall in Norfolk. The exhibition traces her career from the early black and white work through to the entire set of Fragments, a series of seven striking screen prints transferred directly on to Plexiglas and 80s work inspired by a trip to Egypt. Aficionados will be needing a place to stay, what's more, so step up The King's Head Hotel.
It's a handy 15 minutes away by road from Narborough Hall, and about a light year away from what you might expect this close to Sandringham. Some guests have even compared the lobby to a Schrager hotel. Gosh. "We went for a modern interior rather than the more traditional Norfolk pub horse brasses," says Carrie Harvey, one half of the business partnership that owns this small country hotel. By the time you read this, three new rooms will have been fully refurbished to bring the total up to 12, all three of them with views of Bircham windmill and the Sandringham estate. Each room is a little different - with palettes varying from a black and cream combo to pinks, burgundies and chocolate. The tour de force, though, is young chef Ben Handley's menu showcasing as many examples of Norfolk produce as he can muster. Half a dozen Thornham oysters in champagne or natural for £8.10, pan-fried skate wing with a caper, tomato and broad bean butter at £12.75 or peppered rib eye of Norfolk beef with potato and gruyere pie at £14.95.
01485 578265, the-kings-head-bircham.co.uk. Doubles from £150, B&B. The Bridget Riley exhibition is at Narborough Hall, Narborough (robertsandelson.com). Open Wednesdays, Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, 11am-5pm or by appointment until August 28. Visitors are free to wander the grounds throughout the run of the exhibition.
· Weekend is written by Sally Shalam
