Regional Spotlight: Norwich

The historic Norfolk capital, Norwich has undergone a lot of development in recent years. Even the local football club, Norwich City, has benefited, with financial backing from celebrity chef Delia Smith helping to put the club on the brink of promotion to the FA Premier league.

"Norwich is booming," says Simon Jackaman, restaurant negotiator at the Ipswich office of property agent Christie & Co. "There's a real feel-good factor. The city is expanding residentially and commercially, and the licensed property market is very vibrant."

Recent developments include the Castle Mall shopping centre, the massive Riverside development near the railway station, and the conversion of the old library into the Forum leisure complex. Now, the old Nestl‚ factory is being turned into a shopping complex. All have provided opportunities for bars and restaurants.

The opening of the Riverside development three years ago, with its bars, nightclub and multiscreen cinema, has had a major impact on the licensed property scene, says Jackaman, drawing drinkers away from the city centre to the Prince of Wales Road and Riverside area.

Jackaman says that a good place for first-time operators to open a restaurant is on the Prince of Wales Road leading to the station.

Another good area, albeit more expensive, is the city centre end of Magdalen Road, that goes through the historic Tombland area.

There are plenty of opportunities for bars and pubs throughout the city. Locals used to claim proudly there was a pub for every day of the year in Norwich - and that was before the recent developments.