But on the flip side, it’s also a living, working town, with residents on regular living wages supporting active community clubs, societies and activities.

‘It’s fair to say that of course people come here because it’s lovely and the shopping is fantastic and the north Norfolk coast is nearby,’ says Sarah. ‘But it’s equally fair to say we are attempting to try to juggle many layers in one town.’

The Owl Tea Room is thought to be Norfolk's oldest tea room. (Image: Andy Davison Photography)

Balancing the needs of both the community and visitors is at the heart of a number of projects that Holt Town Council has been working on, which are getting underway in the town as the spring approaches.

Holt is famous for its ‘Yards’ – courtyards and alleys, which are home to clusters of businesses. And as town clerk Gemma Harrison explains, one of them is currently getting a facelift.

‘We have been very lucky that via Norfolk County Council and North Norfolk District Council through the Rural England prosperity fund we’ve secured grant funding and we’re currently refurbishing Chapel Yard,’ she says. ‘The ground is gravel and really uneven and because of the way it is it’s not accessible if you’ve got a wheeled frame or a wheelchair or a buggy, and

also there’s nowhere for members of the public to sit. So we’re going to resurface it, we’re going to put some planting in and a big ornamental tree as a focal point and a nice curved bench.

Holt is well-known for its lovely independent shops. (Image: Andy Davison Photography)

‘It’s going to enhance the shopping area experience and the idea is to increase dwell time and footfall to that area of Holt, and I think that’s something both visitors and residents would quite like to see.’

‘The business owners came to the town council to ask if we could help with the grant and it’s a fantastic example of the business community and the council being able to come together on a project,’ adds Sarah.

Another project will hopefully make the charmingly organically laid-out town easier for visitors to navigate.

‘Holt isn’t necessarily laid out in a user- friendly way,’ says Gemma. ‘If you’re coming into town and you’ve got a young family, you won’t know where the play park is.

Holt town centre. (Image: Andy Davison Photography)

You might not know that there’s a big rural area called Spout Hills at the end of the High Street. We’ve had some artwork designed for........

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