This involves a new building for the estate residents to receive meals, attend social events and meetings and comprises seating space, a servery area and a kitchen. It will also contain an office suite for day-to-day management operations.

The site for the clubhouse building is set between an existing group of 15 care dwellings to the west and a potential future second phase of a further 22 care dwellings to the east.

See our earlier story:
Altered plans for care village submitted to district council

See the earlier EDP story HERE.

The post Plans approved for clubhouse at care village appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The building was purchased in September; the three new co-owners are all friends and local businesspeople: James and Tom Ellis, formerly of Original Cottages in Reepham, and Steve Winter, founder of Bread Source.

The new syndicate have been renovating part of the building, which opened on Tuesday 14 November as a Bread Source café, while the eight rooms on the first floor have been spruced up and are now offered as Dial House “stylish B&B”.

The Orange Grove Clinic is planning to open a massage and well-being clinic in the coming weeks and the Country Salon continues to offer hair styling from its existing location upstairs. Other plans include a wine bar and casual dining in the evening.

The Ellis brothers have been involved in Reepham for more than 30 years with their holiday cottage business.

Tom Ellis, who lives in Whitwell with his wife Sara, said: “We have frequented the Dial House – the Old Brewery House Hotel as it was previously – for many years and it has been a special place for us with many happy times and celebrations spent there.

“We want to be an active part of the Reepham community and build a business that is loved by the locals and brings visitors to our lovely town.”

Mr Winter, who started selling bread at a stall on Reepham Market more than ten years ago, said: “I have always felt a fondness for Reepham, as the town was always so supportive of me when I got started in the early days. Coming to Reepham feels like coming home in many ways.

“We have thought carefully about how we can make the best of this iconic building and ensure the Dial House is a buzzing and thriving business in the heart of this beautiful market town.

“We opened our new café bakery in Aylsham almost two years ago and the positive impact we have had on the town’s visitors and footfall has been incredible. We hope it will be the same story in Reepham.”

The partners, all born and bred in Norfolk, are now starting to turn their thoughts to a café and restaurant in the evenings, but say they want to get the basics right to begin with before making full use of the building.

Bread Source
The Dial House
Market Place
Reepham NR10 4JJ
Tel: 01603 879900

Opening hours:
Monday – Saturday 8 am – 5 pm
Sunday 8 am – 4 pm

The post Bread Source opens café as new era unfolds for the Dial House appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The new owners will continue to run the hotel with eight bedrooms, while the ground floor will become a Bread Source café and shop.

The Dial House had been run by Hannah Springham and Andrew Jones of Norwich’s Farmyard restaurant, who took over the business in 2018.

The Reepham-based couple said: “The time has come to hand over the keys to this beautiful place. It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride and we wouldn’t change a moment.”

They admitted that, like others in the hospitality business, they had struggled through the pandemic and recent “frightening” cost rises, “but sharing special moments with both our team and our guests has always given us strength. Thank you for the memories and for being part of our epic journey.”

All three new owners have been a part of the local community for many years. Brothers James and Tom Ellis have been involved in Reepham’s commercial life for more than 30 years as part of the family-owned holiday cottage business (which was taken over by self-catering holiday rentals firm Travel Chapter in 2022), while Mr Winter started selling bread at Reepham Market in 2013 and now has several artisan bakeries and cafés in Aylsham and Norwich.

“We want to be an active part of the Reepham community and build a business that is loved by the locals and brings visitors to our lovely town,” the syndicate stated.

The new owners plan to close the restaurant for a short time while part of the building is renovated, which is set to reopen as a shop and café. The bedrooms and the Country Salon hairdresser will remain unaffected during this time.

Grade II listing

Sited on an early 17th century building, the Grade II listed building was rebuilt and extended in 1729 and originally named the Dial House because of a large sundial over the front door.

The house was converted into a commercial hotel in 1972 and renamed the Old Brewery House Hotel in recognition of its previous role as a residence of the Bircham family that had run a brewery in Reepham for several generations and because one of the hotel’s principal rooms used to be the brewery.

The premises were acquired from a company related to Oxford Hotels & Inns in 2013 by Iain Wilson of Holt-based Byfords, who renovated the building, demolished the sports centre at the rear of the property, built a number of residential units, including redeveloped and new-build properties, opened a restaurant and retail business on the ground floor and opened the eight bed-and-breakfast rooms.

See our earlier stories:

• Award-winning hotel and restaurant for sale
• The Dial House bought by Reepham couple
• Byfords to purchase Reepham’s Old Brewery House Hotel
• Reepham-based holiday cottage business sold
• Bread stall hits the spot at market

The post Dial House under new ownership, Bread Source to move in appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Photo: Quaker Barns

The holiday cottages are situated in Haveringland, and the award-winning Grade II listed barn conversions are described as light, spacious and contemporary in style.

Sally Shippam, owner of Quaker Barns, was delighted to have won the award from LUXlife luxury lifestyle magazine.

She said: “We are a small team and take pride in providing a friendly and professional service and we are extremely grateful to our guests for choosing to stay at Quaker Barns, be it for a family holiday, birthday or anniversary celebration, friends reunion, hen weekend, yoga, well-being or creative retreat.”

Hall Barn (sleeps nine) and Quaker Barn (sleeps eight) feature large, open-plan living and dining areas, a combination of ground-floor and first-floor bedrooms and bathrooms, well-equipped kitchens and south-facing gardens with countryside views.

With a minimum stay of two nights, the properties can be rented separately or together to sleep up to 17 guests.

The post Barn conversions win holiday cottage award appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Located off Wood Dalling Road, the 500-year-old barn with a taproom bar, kitchen and outside courtyard is now open from Wednesday to Sunday every week at various times (see below).

The brewery not only has a range of own beers and a fully stocked bar – it now offers a wide range of food, with a wood-fired pizza oven and a barbecue smoker, and has its own chef.

The brewery has been working with the neighbouring businesses on the farm to offer a venue for people to visit for a drink, a meal – and even to stay. It will now hold a number of events throughout the summer.

Sunday 11 June featured a plant sale from Salle Moor Market Garden, cakes from Drip Drop Bake Stop, motorbikes at Rooster’s Bike Barn and bespoke wagons from Prairie Skies. The barn opened for food and drink and live music in the courtyard.

On Sunday 25 June, All Day Brewing is hosting a wedding fair from 11 am – 3 pm, organised by Copper Lily Events. This will showcase the barn as a wedding reception venue, with local wedding businesses exhibiting their services accompanied by jazz music in the courtyard.

Contact: All Day Brewing Company

Salle Moor Farm, Wood Dalling Road, Salle, Norfolk NR10 4SB

Tel: 01603 327656

Email: info@alldaybrewing.co.uk

www.alldaybrewing.co.uk

Opening times:

• Wednesday–Friday, 5 pm – late; food service 5 pm – 9 pm
• Saturday, 12 noon – late; food service 12 noon – 3 pm; 5–9 pm
• Sunday, 12 noon – 5 pm; food service 12 noon – 4 pm

The post Summer events at revamped brewery highlight businesses at Salle appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

An earlier consultation on proposed sites took place from January to March, and three new/expanded sites were submitted through that exercise.

To ensure that these additional sites can be properly examined, a further consultation is required to take place, which will close at midday on 3 July.

The additional proposed sites include:

• Woodyard, Reepham Road, Foulsham: site for two additional pitches beyond the two already occupied. The site is not recommended for inclusion in the plan because it is located on an acute bend, so allowing more pitches would lead to an increase in vehicle movements using a difficult access.
• Land off Peddlars Turnpike, Guestwick Green: a new site of three pitches. The site is not proposed for allocation for highway safety reasons and because it relies on a remote surrounding highway network that has limited capacity.

For further information on the latest consultation, click HERE.

The locations have been suggested as part of the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP), which is a blueprint for where 50,000 new homes could be built in Norwich, South Norfolk and Broadland by 2038.

At least 53 pitches are needed before the GNLP can be approved by the Planning Inspectorate.

The new sites have been proposed in addition to 10 other recommended locations that have already been considered.

The previously proposed sites include: Buxton Road, Cawston – four pitches; The Oaks, south-east of Letter Box Cottage, Reepham Road, Foulsham – 10 pitches.

See our earlier story:

• Consultation extended for new gypsy and traveller sites

The post New sites proposed for gypsies and travellers appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The hotel and restaurant in the Market Place was put up for sale by Hannah Springham and Andrew Jones in September 2022 for £1.6m. Offers in the region of £1.195m are now being considered, according to property agents Colliers.

The Dial House will remain open as usual until a new owner takes on the business.

See the EDP story HERE.

See our earlier story:

• Award-winning hotel and restaurant for sale

The post Hotel and restaurant now available to rent appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

The Reepham-based couple, who also run the Farmyard restaurant in Norwich, took over the Grade II-listed building in 2018.

The 17th-century property features eight boutique, Georgian-themed bedrooms with marble bathrooms, bathtubs, drench showers, state-of-the-art sound systems and vinyl record players.

The restaurant facilities include several dining rooms and drinking areas inside with a total of 126 covers, as well as a large south-facing patio outside, facing the Market Place, with a further 25 covers.

The hotel also has a fully equipped trading kitchen, spa room, beauty salon and independent clothing shop.

Speaking to Boutique Hotelier, Mr Jones said: “We have thoroughly enjoyed our time operating The Dial House and are humbled by the support that we have received over the years.

“We have worked very hard to build the brand and reputation up to the highest of standards.

“We are very proud of our accomplishments and will hold the memories dear to our hearts.

“The decision to sell is not one that we have not taken lightly but feel now is the right time to pass on the reins.

“Our team at The Dial House are the beating heart of the business and will stay as they are, doing the excellent job they do.

“It’s business as usual and it will continue this way once the new owner takes occupation. We look forward to seeing how the business develops in the future.”

Josh Sullivan, associate director in the Hotels Agency team at Colliers, added: “The Dial House is a superb example of the Norfolk coast’s finest Georgian architecture. The property is so incredibly unique and is a prominent establishment in the region.

“The hotel has potential to convert the space to add more bedrooms, and there is plenty of scope to further grow the food and beverage trade.

“The business has a solid foundation and an established customer base, so there’s no denying this is an excellent opportunity for someone new to come in and bring fresh ideas and energy to the table.”

See our earlier stories:

• Dial House turns its back on being a café
• Dial House owners to appear in new reality TV series
• The Dial House bought by Reepham couple

The post Award-winning hotel and restaurant for sale appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Original Cottages owns a number of holiday let brands across the UK, including Norfolk Cottages and Suffolk Secrets.

The company, which began trading as Norfolk Country Cottages, was founded by Richard and Lesley Ellis in 1992. It is one of Reepham’s largest employers with more than 100 people working in the town out of a total of 400 employees at 36 offices around the UK across some 25 holiday brands.

It has not revealed whether Original Cottages will continue operating under its current branding or under Travel Chapter.

Having started business in the Ellis’s cottage in Whitwell Street, the company moved to Carlton House, Market Place, Reepham, in 1994, and later acquired the adjacent building and shop of Melton House.

By now known as the Original Cottage Company, it then purchased what is now Bank House, also in the Market Place, in 2014 as its head office.

A plan to relocate the Reepham office to a new building on land off Dereham Road, behind the doctors’ surgery, was proposed in 2019, but never carried through, with plans put on hold with the onset on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, private equity firm ECI Partners sold Travel Chapter to the management team.

Travel Chapter offers about 8,000 properties across the UK, and features brands such as Holidaycottages.co.uk, Canine Cottages and Cottages & Castles.

According to Travel Weekly, ECI acquired a stake in Travel Chapter in 2018, and the business has since grown, both organically and through seven acquisitions.

In June 2021, Travel Chapter made its largest acquisition to date, acquiring the Sally’s Cottages brand, which has more than 500 properties in the Lake District.

See our earlier stories:

• Cottage company to hold consultation on new office site
• Cottage company plans new building in Reepham
• Proposed new office development for Original Cottages
• The Original Cottage Company moves to Bank House

See the EDP story HERE.

The post Reepham-based holiday cottage business sold appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.

Photos: Hengrave Meadow Glamping

Hengrave Meadow Glamping opened in 2021 for 56 days, which was allowed within the rules at the time. With the rules changing back to venues being able to open for only 28 days a year, it was time to apply for planning permission, which was granted.

Hengrave Meadow has three traditional bell tents set within two acres of meadow, which teems with wildlife and includes two natural ponds.

It is an adults-only site to ensure the peace and tranquillity for guests, but children are welcome when all three tents are booked by the same group, making it a perfect location for an extended family gathering or friends reunion – and exclusive use of the meadow.

Owner Duncan Smith said he wants guests to have a wonderful experience, not just a night’s accommodation.

The tents are fully furnished with coir matting, rugs, chairs, cushions, a proper double bed and hotel-quality bedding.

Each tent has its own dedicated, outside, fully-equipped camp kitchen with barbecue and seating under suspended sail shades.

There is a private shower room and toilet for each tent in a custom-made shepherd’s hut, plus a communal pot wash and social eating area within the old stables.

There are books and games to borrow and bread, milk and eggs to purchase.

For further information, contact Duncan Smith 07879 481467 or email or visit the website.

Hengrave Meadow Glamping & Bell Tent Hire

c/o The Gardeners Cottage, Ketts Lane, Swannington, Norfolk NR9 5NS

The post Glamping site gives private space to breathe and relax appeared first on REEPHAM LIFE.