15/05/2026: Children takeover disused pub in Swaffham with the support of their community
Joint press release with partners
A group of children aged four - eleven have come together to take over a disused pub, closed for the last two years, at the heart of the High Street in Swaffham, Norfolk. They are being given the keys to the property for May 2026 and taking all the decisions as a group, spurred on by their vivid imagination, to open up a new business at the centre of the historic market town for the month.
Following a recruitment day by Norfolk & Norwich Festival in collaboration with artists Hunt & Darton the ten local children applied to work with the artists to devise a plan to open The White Hart pub as a shop for the Festival. Local people have come together to help repurpose the building, transforming it for the project into a space that is safe and accessible for their youth and community. The budding young entrepreneurs will take part in a series of workshops to grow ideas, cultivate skills, and create a business plan before opening the shop on 16 May.
Like many towns across the UK, Swaffham has faced challenges in recent years, including shop and restaurant closures. Heritage regeneration work led by Breckland Council in partnership with Historic England and the Heritage Fund has helped revitalise the town centre and support business growth. This project is part of Swaffham - A Historic Market Town, which aims to revive the town's historic high street and champion its rich character, culture and heritage assets.
The project is called 'Kids Business' and runs on specific dates between 16 - 24 May.
Jenny Hunt, artist, Kids Business said: "This is the BEST project ever. We absolutely love working with kids — their brains are brilliant. The idea is simple: they come up with a business or shop they'd love to see in their town... then we help them make it happen for real. In Swaffham, we somehow landed ourselves a pub. So the kids have been hard at work reimagining what makes a truly brilliant local boozer in their version: The Kidz Arms. Expect perpetual entertainment, alcohol-free drinks garnished with their favourite sweets, terrifyingly happy hour (clowns may be involved), or 'rent a friend' perhaps and enjoy service from multiple Babs — yes, Barbara Windsors — delivering hospitality with a huge dollop of hilarity.
Alongside all the chaos and comedy, they've also been learning how business actually works. They've learned about branding, what makes a good idea, marketing, pricing, tills, drink-making and customer service too. This is a fully functioning business run by kids. This is a brilliant, bonkers pub, with a truly entrepreneurial bunch of kids showing us exactly what the next generation can bring."
Dan, father of children taking part, said: "It's been so great to see how excited the children have been by the opportunity to create something from their own ideas. The real life context and opportunity to transform a space within their community is wonderful and the way the team have engaged and inspired them from the start has been really impressive. My boys (9 & 4) are equally excited about what they have been part of and feel like they have made equal contribution - thats not easy to achieve! The whole family is excited to see how the project comes together over the next few weeks."
Daniel Brine, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Norfolk & Norwich Festival said: It's a privilege and joy to welcome Kids Business as part of this year's festival. The artists Hunt & Darton have done a brilliant job sparking the imagination and entrepreneurial spirit of the children and it is wonderful the next generation are playing their part in imagining a bright future for Swaffham.
Swaffham Town Council Mayor Cllr Lindsay Beech said: " Swaffham Town Council is delighted to welcome the Kids Business to the White Hart Pub! Run by the creative duo Hunt and Darton in partnership with Norfolk & Norwich Festival and funded by Arts Council England, Kids Business will provide children with the opportunity to develop their business skills before opening their very own shop. Swaffham Town Council are pleased to be involved in the opening of a new chapter in the history of the White Hart Pub."
Cllr Paul Claussen, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Economic Growth and Development, said: "This is exactly the kind of positive, practical project we are proud to support in Breckland. Kids Business will bring new life to a much-loved historic building, draw people into Swaffham town centre, and give local children a brilliant opportunity to be creative, confident and ambitious.
"Through our investment in Swaffham - A Historic Market Town, we are helping to protect the character of this wonderful market town while supporting new ideas that make the High Street more active, attractive and welcoming.
"Swaffham has a proud history and a bright future. This project shows what can be achieved when the council, local people, artists and young residents work together with energy and purpose. I cannot wait to see what these young entrepreneurs create."
Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England said: "The fantastic work being done as part of Swaffham - A Historic Market Town recognises and invests in Swaffham's history, culture and people. The closure of the White Hart pub has been a visible sign of the challenges the town faces but through this project we are reminded of the possibilities and potential.
It's wonderful to see local young people taking the lead, creating plans, making decisions and developing ideas for their own vision. These are life skills that will benefit them and their local community."
Through the Swaffham - A Historic Market Town programme, the Building Grants fund has supported improvements to historic properties, enhancing the high street and boosting investment. Alongside this, the Re-Open scheme has helped bring vacant commercial properties back into use, supporting entrepreneurs to start and grow their business in the town.
Norfolk & Norwich Festival is one of the UK's longest-running arts festivals, established in 1772. Experienced in programming and producing relevant, impactful and complex regional, national and international projects, the festival has a talented team who devise, produce and deliver such creative engagement and participatory projects for children, young people and communities all year round across East Anglia.
Hunt & Darton are a well-established UK arts organisation who specialise in devising and delivering publicly engaged, interactive and highly creative events. They are experts in taking their work directly to people and communities, popping up in empty buildings on high streets and interrupting daily routines by challenging automated behaviour.
In addition to Kids Business, award-winning theatre maker Victoria Melody arrives in Swaffham between 22-24 May as Artist in Residence with the Your Town, My Town, Our Town youth engagement programme as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. Victoria will listen to and record stories from children and young people in Swaffham and develop them to co-create public art works in Autumn 2026.That same weekend, on Saturday 24 May she will also be holding a workshop which will imagine ways the town could improve for young people aged 10-18. The Norfolk & Norwich Festival began today, Friday 8 May, and runs to Sunday 24 May 2026.
Kids Business is supported by the Geoffrey Watling Charity. It is part of a two year national strategic tour supported by Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
