Norwich Lanes celebrates 10th anniversary of major award

On November 8 2014, it won the 'city category' at the Great British High Street Awards.

It beat off strong competition from the likes of the Glasgow Style Mile and Bristol’s Park Street. 

Norwich Lanes business owners celebrating the award win in 2014 (Image: Archant)

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A decade on, the Norwich Lanes is still thriving and home to more than 500 independent businesses, including shops, restaurants, cafés and bars.

Chris Smith, owner of Christophe's Crepes in Pottergate (Image: Newsquest)

There are also two museums, an award-winning arts centre, a community theatre and a cinema.

The area is run by a voluntary group called the Norwich Lanes Association (NLA), which consists of shopkeepers and other business owners. 

It produces and delivers a free 32-page yearly guide and organises the Lanes Summer Fayre, attracting more than 30,000 people each year - though it did not go ahead in 2024. 

With no external funding, the NLA is entirely financed by its membership scheme and local business owners pay £75 a year.

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Benefits include a whole-page listing on the Norwich Lanes website and social media posts. 

Looking up Lobster Lane towards Pottergate (Image: Denise Bradley)

With many UK high streets suffering from low footfall and reduced spending, the Norwich Lanes is still going strong. 

A spokesperson for the NLA said: “Obviously winning the Great British High Street Award in 2014 was a major achievement, but it is the regular visitors, the business owners and their staff and the wonderful architecture that continue to make this place so special.”

See a list of all the independent businesses at norwichlanes.co.uk