County's largest food hall showcases best of food and farming
A Norfolk Food Hall has been opened by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association at the Showground, creating a unique new project designed to showcase and sell the very best food and drink produced in the county.
Covering 3,500 sq ft and with a 220-seater restaurant and outdoor space, the facility will be the largest in the county, and at least 70% of all the products will be sourced from producers in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The £3m facility has also been designed to inform and connect people to the produce grown within Norfolk, with interpretive boards and information illustrating the county's vibrant and dynamic food production industry. Opened on Thursday 22 May, it will also provide a hub for product development and for communities coming together.
Norfolk Business Board recommended the approval of £240,000 in grant funding from Norfolk County Council towards its construction. The remainder of the funding came from trusts and charities supporting agriculture (including the RNAA), local businesses and individuals - all of whom have a shared passion for promoting food and farming in the county.
"The Norfolk Food Hall is unique in the way it tells the story of farming and the amazing people who produce our food and drink," said Managing Director of the RNAA, Mark Nicholas.
"It's a really challenging environment for farming now and anything we can do to connect the general public, and farming is only a good thing. So much of what is produced in the county is of the highest standards in the world, from malting barley and wine to livestock and cheese, and we want to make sure people are aware of how this happens and be proud of their county's farming achievements."
George Brentnall, General Manager, Norfolk Food Hall said "I am excited to see the Norfolk Food Hall farm shop and restaurant become a vibrant hub, directly connecting people with the exceptional food and drink produced right here in Norfolk. Bringing this vision to life has been a fantastic team effort, fuelled by the passion and dedication of everyone involved."
Open seven days a week, Norfolk Food Hall will contain a butchery counter by Tony Perkins Butchers, a delicatessen counter with takeaway coffee and cake, fresh produce and a range of groceries, from chocolate and beer to biscuits, wine and local snacks.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy use of outside seating, a children's play area, and access to green space at the Showground for exercising dogs and enjoying the fresh air. A full 5km Showground Trail is scheduled to open in September.
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