About

Step inside the pub to a welcoming atmosphere, with a proper bar where locals gather to drink local ales, eat from our menus with dishes ranging from good casual pub classics to sophisticated seasonal dishes showcasing the very best of local produce.

Run by husband and wife team Mark and Sally Dobby, both having a wealth of experience in the hospitality trade. Mark has made a name for himself along the coast, running several business before he came to the Dabbling Duck and is a true publican and Sally taking on all design aspects, particularly most recently refurbishing Barrack House and also having her own experience within the trade.

They also have a brilliant team and Dale Smith head chef  has been with them for over five years and fell in love with the pub and Great Massingham. Not forgetting the rest of the team who are all local most of whom are from the village itself.

Our Head Chef is passionate about using fresh local ingredients to produce outstanding dishes catering for our guests varying tastes, from plant-based to gluten free to meat lovers. Attention to detail and variety is important whilst staying true to seasonality.  Our menus and daily specials showcase the best of local Norfolk produce, taking game from local estates in the autumn and winter and fish and shellfish from the Norfolk coast, to produce delicious pub classics and exciting modern dishes with influences from around the globe.

Besides our regular menu there is a specials board which changes often and light nibbles to enjoy with a drink at the bar. The pub also has a carefully selected wine list, hopefully we have something for everyone to enjoy. If you are a gin lover we have vast selection many of them local and we also have our very own Mucky Duck gin, which we are particularly proud of.

Staying at the Dabbling Duck:

Stay the night with a choice of accommodation ranging from comfy and cosy country charm pub rooms, larger garden rooms or the generously proportioned rooms with contemporary styling in our house adjacent to the pub. If you want to self cater, we have that too with our charming Duckling Cottage just a few doors down from the pub.

The Dabbling Duck bedrooms are tastefully decorated and furnished to high specification making the Dabbling Duck an ideal base for an unforgettable stay in one of the prettiest and unspoilt parts of Norfolk. We pride ourselves on our breakfasts where everything is home-made or locally sourced. Whether your a meat lover and just want a good fry up , or you’re looking for vegan, vegetarian or have a special dietary requirement we have something for everyone…and that’s just breakfast!

Rooms 1 – 6 are located within our pub, and are traditional rooms as you would find in an old building , some with views over our quintessential village green.

Rooms 7 – 9 are our garden rooms, these are slightly bigger rooms, and are located on the ground floor. They are also a little quieter located at the end of the garden away from the hustle and bustle of the pub

Rooms 10 – 13 These are our premium rooms, located in our newly refurbished house adjacent to the pub, each one individually designed and carefully styled and all equally sumptuous offering a unique space to unwind from life’s everyday stresses.

Some of our rooms are indeed pet friendly , please contact us directly to find out which ones, we charge £15 extra to bring your pooch.