Support Broadland and South Norfolk this Small Business Saturday

To all our fantastic small businesses in every field, we’d like to say a huge thank you for all your hard work to provide us with quality products and services.

Cllr Jo Copplestone, Broadland District Council’s Economic Growth Portfolio Holder, recently visited Broadland businesses and Cllr Lisa Neal, South Norfolk Council’s Economic Growth Portfolio Holder, visited South Norfolk businesses to show appreciation for their hard work, and hear first-hand about the services and products they offer. Read on to learn about the districts’ gems that they explored.

South Norfolk

Huggers
Lisa's award-winning café-bar bistro Huggers in Long Stratton serves a range of freshly cooked meals, from crispy sweet chilli dishes to tempting burgers, made with locally sourced ingredients. Everything on the menu is plant-based and made in-house (bar the delicious bagels, which are baked onsite). The staff at Huggers have great relationships with their customers, many of whom are trying vegan food for the first time and end up coming back for more. Using a shopfront grant and lockdown grant, Huggers has have been able to renovate the café into a beautiful, relaxing setting, and since opening a year ago, Lisa and her team have been declared England’s Business Awards Winner, Norfolk 2022, for the Best Café. Our Food Health and Safety Team has awarded Huggers a 5-star hygiene rating for their excellent cleanliness standards.

Soul Café
Soul Café in Harleston specialises in craft coffees and teas. It has a gorgeous courtyard area and is the only place in Harleston with an outdoor area for you to enjoy affogato, cocktails, and a selection of delicious hot and cold food, all homemade. Soul Café stays open until 9pm on a Friday, and customers can relax with a local cheese and meat board paired with wines and cocktails. The specials board changes with the seasons and meat is sourced from the butchers next door. To celebrate Small Business Saturday, Soul Café is offering customers a half price croissant with any coffee purchased. Owner Daisy’s catch phrase for the business “good for the soul” is embodied in the beautiful environment and delicious food.

Kin Café
Kin Café is a gorgeous café in Hethersett and has become a focal point for the local community. It serves delicious food and drink, all handmade onsite, from paninis and jacket potatoes to cakes, smoothies and milkshakes. The menu is ever-changing according to what customers are enjoying the most, and the cafe staff know many customers by their name and order. Kin Café has great bonds with local businesses, sourcing ingredients locally and cooperating well with the veterinary practice based in the same building. Manager Gaetano said: “We have created a cosy hub for our community, providing a friendly atmosphere with excellent coffees and homemade cakes and lunches.”

Broadland

Tea & Bunns Tea Room
Tea & Bunns Tea Room in Taverham is a welcoming traditional tea room serving a whole host of fresh cakes, pastries, scones, teas and coffees, as well as some delicious savoury lunch options. Everything is made in-house by the team, who change the menu with the seasons. Some items, such as soup, are changed every couple of weeks, keeping the menu fresh and exciting. Ingredients are bought locally, including sourcing fresh Cromer crabs in the summer for delicious crab salads. Owners Barry and Kim have worked hard with support from Covid grants and a hospitality grant to make their café thrive, surrounded by a courtyard of small businesses that all support one another. Our Food, Health, Safety and Licencing team has awarded Tea & Bunns Tea Room a 5-star hygiene rating.

Neecey’s Café
Neecey’s Café in the Dixon Centre in Hellesdon offers a variety of delicious cakes, sausage rolls, light lunches, breakfasts, and teas and coffees. Owners Tracey and Donna are incredibly friendly and caring, they know all of their local customers by name and even check on them to see if they’re doing okay if they haven’t been in for a while. The café has a real community feel; one year it put on a free Christmas party for all of their regulars, providing a free hot meal and presents. Neecey’s sources ingredients locally where possible and supports local artists by displaying their paintings for sale. With support from a hospitality grant, which helped fund a new extractor fan and seating, Tracey and Donna have created a real community hub with great food and warm service. Our Food, Health, Safety and Licencing team have awarded Neecey’s Café a 5-star hygiene certificate.

Cannell’s by the River
Cannell’s by the River in Reedham is a deli café in an idyllic setting, right next to the river where boats can moor. Its food is fresh and homemade, including light meals, sandwiches, soups, pastries and sausage rolls. On Thursdays customers can order a small or large breakfast with locally sourced meats, from 9am-11:30am. The cafe also offers cakes supplied by another local business called Harris and James. Cannell’s provides an excellent stopping point for walkers, holidaymakers in nearby cottages and guests arriving by boat. As well as eating the delicious food, customers can browse and buy local items stocked at Cannell’s, such as products from Norfolk Gin, Simon's Table, and Tindel Brewery. The café offers gorgeous coffees (roasted in-house) and an array of teas. Our Food, Health, Safety and Licencing team have awarded Cannell’s by the River a 4-star hygiene certificate.