The Maids Head Hotel has brought home an impressive three awards at this year’s Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism Awards. This marks a significant achievement for both the hotel and the city of Norwich.

Winner of the Hotel of the Year at the Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism Awards

The hotel was named Hotel of the Year, alongside winning Taste of England and the Unsung Hero Award — a clean sweep that reflects our commitment to deliver exceptional hospitality.

The Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism awards celebrate excellence across the region’s visitor economy. Each year this culminates in an award ceremony, this year held at Diss Corn Hall.

The Unsung Hero Award was presented to Head Housekeeper, Mandy Ames, who has dedicated more than 35 years of service to the hotel. Widely respected by colleagues and guests alike, Mandy plays a vital role in maintaining the high standards of the hotel’s 84 bedrooms.

Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism Awards Winner

With over 800 years of history, The Maids Head continues to evolve, combining heritage with modern expectations. This includes a strong focus on sustainability, following its Silver EcoSmart award in 2025.

These three awards truly reflect the passion and dedication our team brings to delivering exceptional hospitality every day. They reinforce our commitment not only to our guests, but also to supporting the continued success of our fine City of Norwich. We are proud to play our part in showcasing all that this remarkable destination has to offer.

VisitEngland Awards for Excellence System

As a winner of the Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism Awards, we will automatically go forward to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence System. This judging process is now underway and once completed we will find out if we have been shortlisted for these National Awards. These national awards are due to take place in the first week of June.

Community groups and local charities across Norfolk and Suffolk are being given the chance to share in a £27,000 cash windfall, after a firm of chartered accountants and financial planners opened its community fund up for its latest grants round. 

The Lovewell Blake Community Fund gives out grants of up to £2,000 to charities, voluntary groups and community organisations, distributing money raised by staff and partners at the firm during the past year. 

In the last grants round £30,000 was shared by 25 organisations, with grants ranging from £200 to £2,000 going to a wide variety of good causes including youth groups, village halls, local sports groups, churches and a Men’s Shed group. 

The Lovewell Blake Community Fund was set up in 2008 to mark the firm’s 150th anniversary, with the aim of raising £150,000 for local charities and community groups.  To date the fund has given out grants worth over £420,000.  The fund is administered by the Norfolk Community Foundation, in partnership with its counterpart in Suffolk. 

“We are delighted to open the latest grants round from our Community Fund,” said Tracy Cox, chair of Lovewell Blake’s fundraising committee and grants panel.  “It is a real pleasure to receive applications from smaller, local groups, as these are the organisations working at grassroots level in our communities which can really make a big difference. 

“We are keen to receive grant applications from small community groups with an annual income of less than £50,000, and especially those which have a high degree of volunteer involvement.  Grants can cover the costs of small capital items such as sports equipment. 

“We have worked hard with the Community Foundations to make the application process simple, and I would urge organisations to come forward and bid for a share of this year’s fund.” 

Community groups interested in applying for a grant from the Lovewell Blake Community Fund can find out more at https://www.norfolkfoundation.com/funding-support/grants/groups/lovewell-blake-fund.  Applications close on Monday 13th April. 

Case Study: Ketteringham Hall Cricket Club

One recipient of a grant in the 2025 Lovewell Blake Community Fund grants round was Ketteringham Hall Cricket club, which received £2,000 which enabled it to purchase a brand new bowling machine to help with training men, women, boys and girls across a wide range of ages who use the club. 

“The machine gives us much more opportunity to face that range of deliveries,” said Emily Thomson, women’s co-ordinator at the club. 

“The ladies’ team has only been going for about 18 months, so we are all still getting used to facing lots of different speeds, and different kind of balls.  The machine will give us to spend more time training in the net, be a little bit more independent as a female team and extend the amount of time we can spend training – and massively improves the facilities we all have access to.” 

Piers Ranger, chairperson at the club, said, “It’s really great having this bowling machine, because it gives us consistency, and allows all the batters to be able to look at the different speeds, and how to react to the balls that are coming down.  It’s a real asset and benefit for the club.”

The current FYA allows a company to deduct 100% of the cost of new and unused plant and machinery from its taxable profit. A company can also claim 50% of any new integral features and long-life assets. Until now, this relief could not be applied to assets which were leased out and was unavailable to unincorporated business.

From 1 January 2026, the scope of FYA has widened by allowing a 40% deduction to be claimed on new plant and machinery items purchased by companies and unincorporated businesses. Leased and subleased assets also qualify for relief provided the asset will be used in the UK.

The FYA applies to the first year an asset is acquired. The standard writing down allowance can be claimed on the remaining balance in subsequent years.

While this offers an attractive saving to unincorporated businesses and to leasing and rental businesses, those interested in the relief should note that many of the FYA exclusions still apply. Cars and second-hand assets remain ineligible for the enhanced allowance.

The popular Annual Investment Allowance continues to be available.