There are places renowned for one particular aspect in which they succeed really, really well. The coastal pub that serves excellent seafood dishes, the off-the-beaten-track boutique that specialises in chic, unique jewellery that you simply can’t find in high street stores, the bar that is always alive with a welcoming, celebratory atmosphere… you know the sort of place. Well, Glen Lodge at Bawburgh Golf Club has for a while now been guardian of an increasingly-less-secret expertise - it is a champion of the carvery lunch.

For young and old alike and ideal for large groups and families, the traditional carvery (where meat is freshly sliced to order and you serve yourself with a variety of potatoes and other vegetables, gravy and sauces for usually a very competitive price) is hard to beat. On Sundays (when most carveries customarily occur), it allows you to experience a good old-fashioned roast like Mum used to make… except Mum doesn’t have to make it. No one in your party does. And no one in your group has to slave over tons of washing up afterwards either. Fantastic.

The perfect cure for an over-indulgent Saturday night, and a great way to get your five-a-day at least once a week, I for one am a fan of the carvery.

Refusing to be bound by convention, Glen Lodge offers two carveries a week - the traditional Sunday roast, and a rather special mid-week temptation on Wednesdays. Lovely.

A group of four of us put the much heard about carvery at Glen Lodge to the test one Sunday in February. The venue itself, Scandinavian-styled building at Bawburgh Golf Club, which is just south of Norwich and easy to get to from the A47, is pretty and peaceful, being set in some 120 acres of rolling parkland. The early-spring sun was shining brightly on the day we went and Glen Lodge looked very inviting indeed.

The waiting staff - all very smart and friendly - literally fall over themselves to help. I was delighted to hear that nut roast was available for us veggie types and even more impressed when, as I queued to add the vegetable accompaniments, our waitress brought out a special plate for me, complete with sliced nut roast and my very own little jug of vegetarian gravy.

For more usual carvery-attendees, there was on offer turkey, pork, lamb and silverside beef. The other members of my party chose combinations of their preferred meat, taking beef and turkey or beef and pork (I am informed that a choice of crackling was offered). The service staff was very friendly and helpful, answering questions and carving capably and quickly, which meant that any queuing time was short.

As well as a choice of substantial roast and boiled potatoes, large Yorkshire puddings, gravy and cranberry sauce, there was plenty of seasonal veg on offer - leeks (cooked to perfection my friend commented), parsnips, carrots and cauliflower (with optional white sauce). All was delicious and left us all just the gluttonous side of full!

Naturally, this did not stop us from trying the desserts on offer (it would have been rude not to!). Two of us opted for Eaton Mess (a cream, fruit and meringue concoction served in a glass), while one had orange sherbet ice cream in a brandy snap basket (with real orange grated into the ice cream) and I opted for the baked apple cheesecake, which was, quite frankly, yummy.

Glen Lodge is also open daily for coffee, cakes and meals and you don’t have to be a member of the golf club to go along and enjoy (naturally, if you do like a bit of golf, you might want to give Bawburgh a try as well. Apparently it’s rather good).

Carvery Weds and Sun 12.15pm-2.30pm. £8.75 pp.

Full licensed bar on site.

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