BBC News
By Zoe Applegate
image copyrightGlen Gardiner
image captionThe historic glass Winter Gardens building has been given a £10m lottery handout to convert it into a heritage, arts and education hub
With its golden sands stretching for miles and two piers dating back to the 19th Century, the Norfolk resort of Great Yarmouth was once a mecca for fishermen and holidaymakers. Its fortunes have since waned, with areas of real deprivation. But could the seaside town be bouncing back?
In its fishing industry heyday, boats full of herring would be loaded onto the quayside.
The silver darling, as it was then known, was the town s lifeblood and it was said you could cross the River Yare by walking on the decks of the drifters.
We re trying to make sure there are lots of different shops down here and to bring something different to the town, she said.
One of the new businesses will be run by 65-year-old Geoff Bateman, who is opening Toybox 55 on Monday (April 12).
Geoff Bateman, 65, is opening Toybox 55 in Victoria Arcade in Great Yarmouth on April 12.
- Credit: Caroline Gummer
His first venture into running a shop is an extension of a lockdown hobby - building Lego.
Mr Bateman explained that he bought his daughter a selection of the building blocks for Christmas and that after she had tired of the game, he continued to build sets himself.