In April it was announced that the Grade II-listed building formerly occupied by Dereham's branch of the Italian restaurant chain Prezzo had gone up for sale. Reporter Noah Vickers asked Dereham residents and shoppers what should replace it.

Eastern Daily Press: Evelyn Websdale said she would like a branch of Marks & Spencer to fill the vacant restaurant space.Evelyn Websdale said she would like a branch of Marks & Spencer to fill the vacant restaurant space. (Image: Archant)

"I'd like a branch of Marks & Spencer," said Evelyn Websdale, 77, a cook who works in a care home and lives in Beetley.

She said however that she was not optimistic about one coming, given the reports of M&S's job losses and shop closures. "A decent clothes shop" would do instead, she said.

Eastern Daily Press: Gina Cowel said she wanted to see a sit-down Chinese restaurant fill the space.Gina Cowel said she wanted to see a sit-down Chinese restaurant fill the space. (Image: Archant)

Gina Cowel, 59, a head chef who lives in Dereham said another restaurant should come in to fill the vacant space.

"A sit-down Chinese, because we haven't got one. That would be nice," she said.

Eastern Daily Press: Geoffrey Stallion said he would like to see a decent pie and mash shop move in.Geoffrey Stallion said he would like to see a decent pie and mash shop move in. (Image: Archant)

Geoffrey Stallion, 67, who is retired and lives in Watton, said: "I think a pie and mash shop would be good, a decent one."

An alternative he suggested was a Thai restaurant.

Eastern Daily Press: Steve Morton, who restores classic cars, joked that he wanted to see a car parts shop move in to the vacant space.Steve Morton, who restores classic cars, joked that he wanted to see a car parts shop move in to the vacant space. (Image: Archant)

Steve Morton, 53, who lives in Litcham and restores classic cars, joked that a shop selling car parts would be handy.

He said the town needed "less takeaway food and less charity shops" and a shop selling "household ornaments" could be good in Prezzo's place.

"They need to make shopping on the high street more enjoyable," he added.

Eastern Daily Press: Anne Noel-Todd said she liked Prezzo, and wanted to see it return.Anne Noel-Todd said she liked Prezzo, and wanted to see it return. (Image: Archant)

Anne Noel-Todd, 74, who is retired and lives in Dereham, said "I quite liked Prezzo" and that she would like the restaurant, or a similar one, to come back where it was.