From the new businesses in Norwich, to news of local favourites being crowned award-winners. From new and exciting experiences, to new ways of seeing the classics – so much has happened in the City of Stories over recent months, it can be hard to keep up with it all!
But we’re here to help. And to make sure you find the most exciting new things about the city, we’ve pulled together a quick, 5-minute read that’ll bring you right up to speed and make any visit to both Norwich and Norfolk that much better. Time starts now!
Originating from the Czech Republic and rapidly growing in popularity across Europe, beer spas are becoming the newest way to unwind. And from July, you can try it for yourself as the Norfolk Mead Hotel become the first to open a beer spa in the UK!
Sink into the warm embrace of a wooden hot tub, bathe in the antioxidant-rich properties of malt and hops, indulge in a personal beer tap filled with Norfolk’s finest Woodfordes brewery beer, and relax! The Beer Spa is available to be booked on the Norfolk Mead website, costing £68 per person – reserve your space soon to avoid disappointment!
The Norfolk Mead Hotel is soon opening the UK’s very first beer spa, it’s a must-try!
Did you know? On a visit to Norfolk, you can officially find ‘The World’s Best Single Malt Whisky’, and it comes from The English Distillery in Roudham (which is about a 35-minute drive from Norwich). Crowned winners at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, bottles of this prestigious whisky are now often sold out, so the best way to try it is on their ‘World’s Best Single Malt Tour & Tasting’, in which you’ll join an expert guide to tour the distillery before tasting 2 very special whiskies, including the award-winning drink! This tour costs £45 per adult and £5 per under-18 and can be booked on the English Distillery website.
The World’s Best Single Malt Whisky can be found right here in Norfolk, take their tour to try some!
Norfolk-based, family-run visitor favourite, ROARR! were recognised as a leading attraction in the country earlier in June as they picked up two national awards. At the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, ROARR! were awarded with ‘Silver’ in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Category and ‘Bronze’ for Large Visitor Attraction, recognising their hard work to provide families with memories to last a lifetime. Meanwhile, their annual scare attraction, PrimEvil, took home ‘Best Scream Park Event’ at the SCARs Awards.
If you’ve visited before, you’ll know these awards are more than deserved! And if you haven’t visited previously, now is the perfect time to treat the family to a fantastic day out as guests can enjoy Jurassic June savings of 20% on weekday tickets (£12.95 per person instead of £15.95) and 10% on weekend tickets (£19.95 per person instead of £21.95) for visits booked online.
As one of the nation’s leading visitor attractions, the whole family will love a visit to ROARR!
There’s a new, socially conscious 2-day festival coming to Norwich, and it’s not one to miss! Wild Fields will take place in Earlham Park across Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17, showcasing groundbreaking music from across a spectrum of genres and hosting industry talks and climate discussions.
Award-winning artists Ezra Collective will be headlining the festival, with other artists such as Jalen Ngonda, Kae Tempest, Sampa The Great, and many more performing. There will also be delicious food and drink on offer from vendors such as Namaste, The Bodega, Disco Kitchen Tacos, and more. Tickets are available from only £30 per person and can be purchased on the Wild Fields website. To find out more about the festival, we spoke to Ben Street, director of Wild Fields and Wild Paths – read what he had to say here!
World-renowned artists, Ezra Collective, will be taking to the Wild Fields stage in Earlham Park!
Another brand-new addition to the City of Stories, Søstrene Grene are a popular Danish homeware brand promoting ‘hygge’ – a special state of contentment and belonging. You can really feel it when you walk into their new store on London Street, with classical music, subdued lighting, and their signature labyrinth-style layout to fully immerse you in serenity!
Each week there’s new collections of homewares, furniture, kitchen products, seasonal décor, gifting, craft items, toys, accessories, and so much more. Be sure to pop in the next time you visit the City of Stories, you might just find the next addition for your home!
With an ever-changing selection of homeware, Sostrene Grene is the perfect place to shop for the next addition to your home!
The story of Maud the Norfolk Wherry is a truly fascinating one, and in July, you can see it for yourself! Built in Reedham in 1899, Maud the Norfolk Wherry was built to carry cargo all over Norfolk. In the 1930s, it was used to deliver sugar beet, before being converted into a barge until the conclusion of the Second World War.
But then, in the 1960s, disaster struck, when Maud sunk on Ranworth Broad, where it sat for approximately 20 years before being brought back to the surface in 1981 and taken to Upton where it spent 18 years being restored to its former glory. In 1996, Maud was added to the National Historic Ships and by the age of 100, Maud was setting sail again.
Now, to mark its 125th birthday, Maud will be retracing their steps from a previous life when wherries were a key part of the Broadland transport system. As part of this journey, on Thursday, July 4, you’ll be able to find Maud mooring at the Ribs of Beef for just one day only. If you’re in the area, do go give it a visit!
Visit Maud the Norfolk Wherry right here on the waters outside The Ribs of Beef!
And if you are a foodie then book a table at new Vietnamese restaurant Pho in Queen Street which for when we have good weather, also has outdoor dining. The food is fresh, authentic and absolutely delicious.
Whilst Giggling Squid on Tombland has just completed its refurbishment with a botanicals theme. Note too they have an large outdoor space with tables and chairs and some of the best Thai food in the area.
