All the changes happening in north Norfolk in summer 2023

1) Hodson and Co

Charlie Hodson at his restaurant Hodson & Co in Aylsham (Image: Denise Bradley)

Known as the 'smallest restaurant in the UK', Hodson and Co in Aylsham announced in August that it would be closing its doors. 

The owner, Charlie Hodson, decided to retire from the hospitality industry after 35 years of work in kitchens around Norfolk. 

Hodson and Co opened in December last year with only one table, able to sit up to eight people. 

The restaurant will close on December 30. 

2) No.17

Inside No.17 on a busy opening week (Image: No.17)

Taking on the former home of The View Restaurant in Mundesley, No.17 café serves a range of hot baguettes. 

The premises have been vacant since August last year and a controversial planning application to convert the ground floor of the building into two flats was recently withdrawn after more than 150 objections. 

The café opened at the end of August and offered a free tasting session for people in the village.  

3) The Core Café

The Core Cafe in Holt's Appleyard courtyard, with owner Nick Bruce-Lockhart and chef Angus Duthie (Image: Adam Baker)

The Core Café in Holt opened in July and has already proven to be a popular newcomer.

The artisan Italian deli sandwich café draws inspiration from owner Nick Lockhart's time working in a restaurant in Florence.

The menu offers a selection of traditional Italian deli sandwiches made with crispy schiacciata bread.

In the evenings, the café is open as a tapas restaurant, hosting Holt’s Casa Blanca’s Iberian cuisine.

4) Mountain Warehouse

The two Church Street stores are just yards away, separated by a pharmacy (Image: Google Maps)A new Mountain Warehouse store was announced for Church Street in Cromer in August, moving into the formerly vacant M&Co unit. 

The retailer recently confirmed that it does not have any plans to close another of its stores, also in Church Street. 

The new store features an Animal clothing section, which was bought by Mountain Warehouse back in 2021.

5) Orion Jewellers 

Orion Jewellers, in Church Street, Cromer (Image: Adam Barker)

Also in Church Street is a new jeweller shop, Orion Jewellers. 

The shop makes and sells handcrafted jewellery, as well as offering repair, restoration and services on both clocks and watches.

The owner of the shop has more than 30 years of experience and previously owned jewellers in Essex. 

6) The Blind Pig

New owners of The Blind Pig, Matt and Fay McKay (Image: Adam Barker)

The Blind Pig wine bar and bistro in Aylsham has already changed ownership since it opened in June. 

Matt and Fay McKay, who both grew up in Cromer, took over the restaurant in August. 

The venue's name is a nod to the former café, Piggy's, that once resided in the building and is also a reference to the illicit drinking dens of prohibition America. 

The previous owners spent half a year renovating the building prior to the restaurant's opening. 

7) Fenspirits Larder

Inside Fenspirits Larder, in Freeman Street, Wells-next-the-Sea (Image: Adam Barker)

Fenspirits Larder café and bar opened at Freeman Street in Wells in July. 

The café sells teas and coffee as well as alcoholic drinks produced at the Fenspirits distillery in Wisbech. 

There is a range of vodkas, gins and rums, as well as chocolate and toffee liqueurs that are sold both to drink in and in bottles to take away. 

Other locally-produced products are also on sale, such as jams and chutneys. 

8) Makers Fudge

Amie Airey and Nick Butcher with their two children in Makers Fudge (Image: Adam Barker)

The family-run sweet shop Makers Fudge opened in Cromer in July. 

Nick Butcher and his partner Amie Airey launched Makers Fudge in Tucker Street, using traditional early 1800s techniques to make the fudge on a slab.

Customers can pick from salted caramel, lemon sherbet, chocolate orange, Oreo, strawberries and cream and mint chocolate chip. 

The business recently enjoyed a hugely successful collaboration with local rum maker, Poppyland Distillery and Brewery.