Peggy’s Night by the Sea: Sunny Hunny, Ghost Town Streets and Deep-Fried Curiosity

Some trips in Peggy are full-on adventure marathons. Others are short, sweet, slightly surreal one-night escapes where the location itself does most of the talking. Our visit to Hunstanton—better known as “Sunny Hunny”—was very much the second kind.

We arrived in the evening and parked up right by the sea. The North Norfolk coast stretched out in front of us, calm and wide, with the famous striped cliffs of Hunstanton fading into the dusk. These striking red and white layers were formed over millions of years as different sediments built up, giving the town its instantly recognisable coastline.

But what struck us most wasn’t just the geology—it was the atmosphere.

Hunstanton felt like a ghost town.

The seafront, which in summer is usually full of holidaymakers, amusements and ice cream queues, was almost completely still. Arcades were shut, benches empty, and the promenade echoed with nothing but wind and distant waves. It had a strangely cinematic feel, like we had arrived after everyone else had already left.

In the morning, the town felt even quieter, as if it was gently waking up but not quite ready to start the day.

We made our way to Eric’s Fish and Chips, a well-known Norfolk favourite just down the coast in Thornham. It’s one of those places that has built a reputation for taking something simple and doing it really well. Fresh fish, crisp batter and that unmistakable seaside smell that somehow makes everything taste better.

Naturally, we couldn’t leave without trying something a little unusual.

A deep-fried jam sandwich.

It sounds like something invented on a dare, but it turned out to be exactly what it promised—crispy, sweet, warm, and slightly ridiculous in the best possible way. One of those foods that makes absolutely no sense until you try it, and then somehow makes perfect sense for a seaside trip.

From there we drove on to World of Beers and Antiques, a treasure-filled mix of curiosities where old signage, vintage bottles, pub memorabilia and forgotten objects all compete for attention. It felt like stepping into a cross between a museum and a very eccentric pub that had been slowly collecting stories for decades.

Of course, no visit would be complete without sampling something local, and Lillie’s cider quickly became the drink of choice. Crisp, refreshing, and dangerously easy to drink, it matched the laid-back rhythm of the Norfolk coast perfectly.

Hunstanton itself has a long history as one of Britain’s earliest purpose-built seaside resorts, developed in the Victorian era when sea bathing and coastal holidays became fashionable. Its grand hotel, promenade and planned streets were all designed to attract visitors looking for fresh air and “healthy” seaside living. Today, that Victorian structure still shapes the town—even if, on our visit, it felt like we had the entire place almost to ourselves.

As we sat by the sea before heading off, Peggy once again felt like the perfect companion—parked up between silence and shoreline, ready for the next adventure.

Even in its quietest moments, Sunny Hunny still has a way of leaving an impression. Sometimes it’s not the crowds or the noise that define a place, but the stillness when they’re gone.

Peggy and Crew