Norfolk Food Hall project at showground seeks £1m funding

The Norfolk Food Hall is part of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association's (RNAA's) strategy to maximise year-round commercial revenue from its showground at Costessey.

Planning approval was secured last April for the new building, including a 140-seat restaurant, butcher, delicatessen and outdoor seating area, located inside the site's main entrance gate near the A47 junction.

The proposed shop design for the Norfolk Food Hall at the Norfolk Showground (Image: RNAA)

The RNAA says it will become a flagship showcase for the county's nationally-important agri-food sector - creating 21 new jobs and a valuable 'shop window' for local food and drink producers, while helping thousands of consumers to "engage with agriculture" and understand more about the origins of their food.

Surpluses will be reinvested towards the RNAA's charitable goals of promoting Norfolk food and farming, and supporting skills development and education.

But after a period of steep inflation, the project is now seeking the final third of the £3.2m total costs from corporate sponsors and grant organisations.

RNAA managing director Mark Nicholas said: "This is a flagship project which will help open up the showground.

"I cannot express the importance of what this will do, promoting the provenance of local food and drink, telling the story of farming in Norfolk and connecting youngsters with that story. It is the showcase for the agri-food sector that Norfolk currently lacks.

"But over the last 18 months while we have been looking at this project, the reality is that inflation has increased and the cost of capital has increased.

"Therefore, we now need help to raise that final tranche of funding to get this over the line, to get it done."

Two thirds of the budget has already been secured from sources including RNAA funds and a £750,000 loan from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership's (LEP's) Growing Places Fund.

Mr Nicholas said the RNAA is still in conversations with public authorities about potential grant funding streams, but it is also speaking to businesses and individuals in the county "who we feel will benefit from having an association with the project".

It is offering potential donors a package of benefits through its "business supporters scheme", such as an annual dinner, discounts on venue hire across the showground, access to talks and events, and advertising opportunities.

Proposed building designs for the Norfolk Food Hall at the Norfolk Showground (Image: RNAA)

Meanwhile, the food hall's "founding patrons" can have their names displayed within the café, and will also receive an invitation to an annual patrons’ dinner and be given priority access to Norfolk Food Hall events.

Loan opportunities are also being offered for supporters "who wish to explore giving support in a more flexible way".

Mr Nicholas said the project will be going out to tender next week, with the goal of starting construction in the third quarter of this year, ahead of an expected opening by Easter 2025.

"I am highly confident that we will attract the funding that we need to bring this project to reality," he said.

"Agri-food is one of the strategic priorities for economic development in Norfolk and what we are able to do here is develop a food hall project which provides a connection, bringing agriculture closer to the public, while supporting local food and drink producers to get their products to market."

Businesses wishing to support the project can contact mark.nicholas@rnaa.org.uk or 01603 748931.

The proposed cafe design for the Norfolk Food Hall at the Norfolk Showground (Image: RNAA)