Based in a 40 square metre retail unit at the recently rebuilt Church Farm Barns, Avocet Antiques is filled with items such as furniture, artwork and lighting, ranging from the 17th century to the early 20th century.
 
Phil Royle, who set up Avocet with his wife Bonnie, said: “We are thrilled to be open and part of the thriving, unique and charming rural Norfolk community of Heydon.
 
“This is a brand new, exciting adventure for us as a family business – a long-standing dream that’s finally become a reality.
 
“We aren’t antiques experts, just enormously passionate about old furniture and offering people a greener, cooler, more sustainable and interesting way to design their home interiors.
 
“We have sourced some really interesting and useful pieces that we love and we are sure our customers will too.
 
“And we hope the many lovely people who come to Heydon to walk, eat, cycle and chill out – and those lucky people who live here – will pop in and find something interesting to take home.”
 
Avocet Antiques is the first in a new development of four business retail units to be let by the Heydon Estate.
 
The business joins the Earle Arms public house, the award-winning Heydon Village Tea Shop and Husk Bakery. Other tenants include floral design brand Wallflower & Wallace and interior design house Moochi Modo.
 
And later this autumn, the Beauty Barn beauticians and a hairdressing salon will open at Church Farm Barns, with one of the units still to be let.
 

• Avocet Antiques is open from 11 am – 4 pm Wednesday to Saturday, and 11 am – 2 pm on Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday. Tel: 07946 610193. Email: avocetantiques@btinternet.com