Work begins on £3m Norfolk Food Hall project at showground

The Norfolk Food Hall has been designed as a "flagship showcase" for the county's agri-food sector - creating 21 new jobs and a valuable shop window for food and drink producers.

Plans also include a 140-seat restaurant, butcher, delicatessen and outdoor seating area, located near the site's main entrance gate.

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

The project is being led by showground owners the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), supported by more than 40 businesses which have contributed to the project.

Although fundraising is still under way to raise the final £250,000 needed to complete the £3m budget, the RNAA says it is confident enough to push ahead with construction.

Contractors from Smith of Honingham have already begun work on the foundations, showing the 48x30m footprint of the building for the first time.

Construction work has begun on the £3m Norfolk Food Hall project at the Norfolk Showground (Image: Chris Hill)

RNAA managing director Mark Nicholas said: "This is really significant for a number of reasons. It is the first major build on this site for over 40 years, and it will provide a much-needed showcase for food and drink producers in the county.

"It is going to be transformational for us, because it will provide that new point of interest so people will feel that the showground is increasingly becoming a destination for leisure, social, cultural and business activities.

"It also provides a new way of showing our support to the food and drink industry by providing a more direct route to market. And, really importantly, the Norfolk Food Hall provides a point of connection for the public to understand better the importance of local food and where their food comes from.

"One of the reasons the Norfolk Food Hall is different to any other farm shop is partly its size and scale, but also within the narrative it will tell the story of farming in Norfolk and the people involved."

The food hall is scheduled to open in May - at which point, the RNAA also hopes to open a "showground trail", including ponds and wildlife areas, as part of a wider project to open up the site's green spaces to the public.

A 5km nature trail is being planned at the Norfolk Showground (Image: Chris Hill)

"The food hall will be open seven days a week and, when the food hall is open, the Norfolk Showground Trail will be open, so you can come and exercise or walk your dogs, and get something to eat," said Mr Nicholas. 

"We anticipate that it will be a 5k circuit, because we also want to make it useable for Parkrun.

"It is all about opening up the showground and making it a much more inclusive place than it has been in the past."