More than just families and households have been feeling the pinch this year - with dozens of businesses across Norfolk closing their doors.

Here are eight businesses that have closed in Norfolk in 2023.

1. Flavours of Horning

Watton & Swaffham Times: Keith Evans took over the Clubhouse Cafe in 2022 and reopened it as Flavours of HorningKeith Evans took over the Clubhouse Cafe in 2022 and reopened it as Flavours of Horning (Image: Newsquest)

Keith Evans took over the former Clubhouse café in the Ferry Marina following its closure and opened his new bistro, Flavours of Horning, in May 2022.

In April, the restaurant reopened after the winter season and relaunched its sell-out roasts on Easter Sunday, as well as introducing a cake table with homemade sausage rolls and pies. 

But the Norwich-born restauranteur decided to close Flavours of Horning to focus more on his catering business, closing the doors on September 30.

2. The Original Factory Shop

Watton & Swaffham Times: The Original Factory Shop has several stores in NorfolkThe Original Factory Shop has several stores in Norfolk (Image: Google Maps)

Earlier this month, Diss lost its branch of The Original Factory Shop which had been trading in the town for more than 10 years.

The department store has nearly 200 branches across the UK and several others in Norfolk, including in Fakenham, Cromer, and Dereham.

A new store recently opened in Church Street in Attleborough. 

3. Whistlestop

Watton & Swaffham Times: Whistlestop in Sheringham closed when owner Cliff Morris decided to retire Whistlestop in Sheringham closed when owner Cliff Morris decided to retire (Image: Archant)

A "beloved" newsagent was one of many businesses to close up shop for good this year. 

Owner Cliff Morris took over the Whistlestop newsagent in Sheringham in 1986 and expanded it to include a photo lab, an ice cream parlour and a hot food takeaway over the years.

"More than anything I'll miss the customers," he said ahead of his well-earned retirement. 

4. M&Co

Watton & Swaffham Times: M&Co closed all of its stores in Norfolk by FebruaryM&Co closed all of its stores in Norfolk by February (Image: Newsquest)

Clothes retailer M&Co, formerly Mackays, went into administration in December 2022 and announced all of its 170 stores would cease trading by the end of February. 

The firm urged customers to use any gift cards by the end of the month and stores in Hunstanton, Fakenham, Cromer, Attleborough and Diss were closed.

Originally founded in 1834 as pawnbrokers as pawnbrokers, Mackays switched to selling clothes in 1953. It was rebranded to M&Co in 2005.

5. Wilko

Watton & Swaffham Times: Wilko stores across Norfolk closed in 2023Wilko stores across Norfolk closed in 2023 (Image: Newsquest)High street giant Wilko shocked the country earlier this year when it fell into administration with 400 stores and 12,000 jobs on the line. 

Efforts to buy out the failing retailer were unsuccessful and in early October all outlets were closed for good. 

A total of five stores in Norfolk were lost which included locations in Norwich, Thetford, King's Lynn, Dereham and Great Yarmouth.

6. QD Furniture Store

Watton & Swaffham Times: The main QD store remains open after the furniture store's closureThe main QD store remains open after the furniture store's closure (Image: Google Maps)

National chain QD announced that its Swaffham furniture store branch would close after just two years in the town. 

The budget chain opened the store in Market Place in 2021 and said the main QD store in London Street would remain open despite the smaller store's closure. 

It added it was investing in high-street locations and actively looking at new store openings in Norfolk for 2024.

7. Monsoon and Accessorize

Watton & Swaffham Times: Monsoon and Accessorize closed suddenly earlier this monthMonsoon and Accessorize closed suddenly earlier this month (Image: Supplied)Sister businesses Monsoon and Accessorize unexpectedly closed earlier this month and departed the first floor of Chantry Place with closure notices stuck to the windows. 

The clothing and accessory retailers said it was "not goodbye" but that the nearest store is now in Cambridge. 

Other branches of Monsoon Accessorize in the UK that have recently closed are in Plymouth and Edinburgh after the firm narrowly avoided liquidation in 2020.

8. Wardrobes of Wymondham

Watton & Swaffham Times: Michelle Fernandes shut her beloved Wardrobes store in Wymondham in January, citing a lack of customers.

She said there were "major issues" in the town, including parking problems, road closures and "too many charity shops".

Miss Fernandes, who had been running the shop for 24 years, also bemoaned the number of market stalls allowed to trade in the town, with some selling the same goods as permanent shops and able to undercut them.

A previous version of this article stated Folly Tearoom was closed. This is incorrect. It closed under its previous owners in the summer but was taken over and reopened in December.