Crab Pot Cafe in Cromer reopens under new management

Samantha Edgell, 32, and Anthony Aston, 38, took over the Crab Pot Cafe on Hamilton Road in Cromer last month.

The couple, who are originally from Leicester, was looking to invest in a business when they saw an advert for the cafe in August.

Ms Edgell said: "It was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment type thing. We went to view the place and fell in love with it."

A week later they put in an offer on the property before completing the purchase in early December.

"There was something about the cafe, a feeling. It was exactly what I was looking for," Ms Edgell said.

The business opened under the new managers on December 20.

"It's been absolutely brilliant. We've had really positive feedback, positive comments on the food. We're really pleased," Ms Edgell said.

The menu will remain the same for now, while the new owners plan to introduce more local produce as they want to support other businesses in the area.

They are already selling Grumpy Panda coffee, which is roasted in Dereham, and hot chocolates made with the Cromer-based Coco Collective.

The walls will display paintings and photographs by local artists.

Ms Edgell said: "We want to update the premises a little bit, but it's working so well as it is, so we won't do anything drastic."

The couple and their three children - Jack, nine, Lucy, five, Freddie, two, and one-year-old Ted - moved from Leicester to Cromer in 2019.

They had been visiting the town for holidays for years before deciding to make the place their permanent home.

"There's something about Cromer. I fell in love with the town," Ms Edgell said.

She currently does the cooking while Mr Aston runs the front of the cafe, taking orders and clearing plates.

"I've never done anything like this before but I love it, I'm really enjoying it," she said.

The cafe opens 10am to 3pm from Tuesday until Saturday.

In 2019, the Crab Pot, which used to be run by Michael Fuhri, was named by TripAdvisor as one of the best places to eat in Cromer.