Pure Brides and Suit Hire opens Norwich Castle Meadow store

Pure Brides and Pure Suit Hire, the biggest bridal showroom and groom hire departments in East Anglia, is now based in the former Maplin electronics store in Castle Meadow.

Anna Hare, owner of Bure Brides on the opening day of the brand's new showroom at Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

Owner Anna Hare first set up her bridal boutique in St Benedicts Street in 2005 before expanding to its former Lower Goat Lane home for more than a decade.

The new store boasts a bar on arrival where clients can sip on a glass of bubbly or prosecco, as well as four fitting areas for men and four bridal lounges.

Pure Brides owner Anna Hare behind the bar at Pure Brides' new showroom in Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

The cocktail bar at Pure Brides' new showroom at Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

She said of the opening: "It's all come together, it looks fantastic and we're all so excited.

"This has been a whole different ballgame.

"Expanding from St Benedicts to Lower Goat Lane felt epic, like we'd found our forever shop and we couldn't imagine outgrowing it.

Pure Brides store manager Gemma Bean and owner Anna Hare on Pure Brides' opening day at Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

"It was such an important part of our journey as it set us on the road to where we are now."

Ms Hare first looked into expanding last April thanks to the boom of the menswear branch of the business.

Ties on display at Pure Suit Hire at Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

Pure has hired over 30,000 items in the menswear department, kitting out 3,900 grooms, in the last decade alone - as well as 4,200 brides.

"I wanted to do more for men when we expanded," Anna contained.

Suits on display in Pure Suit Hire at Castle House, Norwich, which opened on Tuesday - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

Suits on display at Pure Suit Hire at Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

"Our men's business has gone absolutely crazy.

"Bridal is where we started and it's always been about the experience.

Pure Brides store manager Gemma Bean and owner Anna Hare with Vicki Siviter of decor and event hire Rococo Rainbow on Pure Brides' opening day at Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

"So when we introduced menswear when we expanded to Lower Goat Lane, we just did men's in the same way - we didn't know any different.

"That's what's set us apart as we've grown."

One of the bridal suites at Pure Brides' new showroom in Castle House, Norwich - Picture: Maya Derrick (Image: Newsquest)

Anna has taken on three new staff to join her now 11-staff-strong team.

She said moving to Castle House has been a six-figure expansion.

"This is a long-term investment into our forever home," Anna added.