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Food hall to expand with American-style games room

Owen Sennittin Norwich
Getty Images Shuffleboard table.Getty Images
Shuffleboard tables, similar to ones seen in American games rooms, are to be installed in a food hall in Norwich

Visitors to a Victorian shopping arcade will soon be able to play a centuries-old game that is becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

The team behind Yalm food hall at Norwich's Royal Arcade is expanding to create a games room that will feature two 18ft-long (5.4m) shuffleboard tables, a type commonly seen in the United States.

Players score points by sliding pucks into different zones, much like in curling.

The games room is the latest venture to open at the arcade, which has been welcoming shoppers since 1899.

Owen Sennitt/BBC Dan Searle, standing inside Yalm at the Royal Arcade in Norwich. He is wearing a black T-shirt with a khaki jacket over the top and is wearing a cap on his head. He is looking directly at the camera and smiling.Owen Sennitt/BBC
Dan Searle from Yalm said he first played shuffleboard in New York

Dan Searle, operations director at multi-vendor food hall Yalm, said he first played shuffleboard many years ago in New York.

"It is a really accessible game, you can be a complete novice and still have a really good time," he said.

The equipment comes with extra technology to offer different game types, and a set of three electronic dartboards will also be installed.

Searle hopes to have the games room open in the next fortnight in a space connected to the existing hall.

He added: "What we are always striving to do is to create more reasons to come and hang out at Yalm."

Owen Sennitt/BBC Royal Arcade in Norwich. Either side of the arcade is lined with businesses including food and drink, boutiques and homeware shops.Owen Sennitt/BBC
The Art Nouveau architecture of the Royal Arcade was designed by George Skipper

The Grade II listed Royal Arcade is celebrating its 127th birthday this year and its independent traders said it remained a thriving community of businesses.

It was built on the site of the Angel Inn, a 15th Century pub and is known for its Art Nouveau architecture designed by George Skipper, a prominent architect in the city.

Yalm is one of 16 businesses that occupy a space inside the arcade.

Former teachers Bria Williamson and Jodie Jenkins opened homeware and trinket store Lazy Lobster 18 months ago.

Williamson said: "The people of Norwich love independent businesses, they are fiercely supportive.

"All the other shops here are also very supportive, we feel we can lean on people if we need anything. This was one of the big things that made us want to be here."

Owen Sennitt/BBC Jodie Jenkins and Bria Williamson standing outside their shop, Lazy Lobster in the Royal Arcade in Norwich. Jodie is standing on the left, she is wearing a white graphic T-shirt with a denim jacket over the top. She has blonde hair and is wearing a pair of glasses. She is looking directly at the camera and smiling. On the right is Bria, who is wearing a white jumper which says SAN FRANCISCO on it. She has dark hair and is wearing a pair of glasses and is looking directly at the camera and smiling.Owen Sennitt/BBC
Bria Williamson (right) said people were "fiercely supportive" of independent businesses in Norwich

Jenny Bee Lee, who has run fashion boutique Lady Bee Loves for nearly a decade, added: "We've seen people come and go and we've seen fledgling small businesses become much bigger and move to a larger shop.

"We all help each other out and look out for each other."

Owen Sennitt/BBC Jenny Bee Lee, a woman who is standing outside her fashion boutique Lady Bee Loves which is located in the Royal Arcade in Norwich. She has red hair and is wearing a black cardigan and red lipstick.Owen Sennitt/BBC
Jenny Bee Lee said some small businesses that started in the Royal Arcade had grown bigger and bigger

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