Two new eateries open for visitors to the Broads

Fresh for the 2025 season, the Broads Authority is excited to welcome two new food outlets at its How Hill and Acle Bridge locations, serving a range of refreshments for visitors.

Two people standing on a garden path in front of a quaint red-brick cottage with a single white-framed window and a tall chimney. The cottage is surrounded by lush greenery, flowering bushes, and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

We would like to give a warm welcome to two new catering outlets serving delicious drinks and snacks – ‘Natural Rise’ at How Hill National Nature Reserve and ‘Social Bites’ at Acle Bridge.

Situated on the green next to Toad Hole Cottage, Natural Rise will be offering barista coffee, teas and cold drinks, as well as hot paninis and topped American-style pancakes from their converted horse box.

There will be plenty of outdoor seating available for visitors to soak up the surroundings of the cottage garden. The horse box will initially be open from 10am to 5pm, with extended opening hours planned for the summer months.

Natural Rise is owned by Simon and Sylwia, who will be running the site alongside a small team.

Simon Garner said: “We are a husband and wife team and this is our third year trading as Natural Rise.

“We’ve taken the horsebox to many events in lots of different locations, and this is our first permanent pitch, so we are really looking forward to putting our own unique touch on such an iconic site as How Hill.”

Natural Rise will be open to serve visitors to How Hill House, Toad Hole Cottage or after a walk in the wonderful gardens. The addition here will fill the gap for refreshments on-site as the nearby tearoom based in How Hill House ceased trading last year. Our much-loved range of ice creams from Ronaldo will still be available from Toad Hole Cottage.

The view out of the catering trailer at How Hill across the greenery of Toad Hole Cottage garden

Another newcomer opened its serving hatch at Acle Bridge riverside last weekend (4 April). Social Moments, a charity and social enterprise, have launched ‘Social Bites’ – high-quality food and drinks at affordable prices from a beautifully converted horsebox trailer. The project offers young adults work experience opportunities to build confidence and practical skills through real-life catering experience.

Their new menu will include packed grilled sandwiches, sweet mini waffles, traybakes and artisan coffees, alongside a number of vegan options, served from biodegradable or recyclable packaging.

Social Bites will be open seven days a week. Wednesday to Sunday will offer a relaxed café atmosphere. On Fridays, pizza will be served from 12–6pm, making it the perfect stop for locals, boaters, dog walkers, and families alike.

Social Moments also provide affordable activities for children and mental health support for families. A percentage of the revenue from the site will be reinvested into community programs such as providing meaningful work experience for young people, affordable food for families, and accessible community workshops.

Over the coming months, they will introduce seasonal events and well-being sessions such as yoga by the river, pop-up family days, and outdoor mindfulness sessions.

Chantelle Tyrelle, Founder of Social Moments Enterprise said:

A pastel pink food trailer with a serving window open, set up by a riverside on a sunny day. The trailer has white tiled walls inside and a small chalkboard menu outside. In the background, there's a calm river with moored yellow and white boats, an old weathered building, and leafless trees under a clear blue sky.

“We’ve been dreaming of a consistent location to help us provide structure and routine for our work experience teenagers, and we’re so thankful to the Broads Authority for making that a reality.

“We believe that food brings people together—and now we have the chance to offer more than just something delicious.

“Through Social Bites, we’re giving young people the chance to grow, belong, and be part of something special.”

The horsebox and plenty of outdoor seating will be situated at Main Road, A1064 Acle Bridge, Fleggburgh NR13 3AT. The pitch will be located next to the existing thatched chalet and other buildings at Acle Bridge, which were no longer in a suitable condition to operate as a cafe.

We extend a warm welcome to the Natural Rise and Social Moments teams and hope visitors will enjoy all they have to offer.

For more information about Toad Hole Cottage and visiting How Hill please see our website. Find out more about Natural Rise and Social Moments on their Facebook Pages.

Wednesday 9 April 2025

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