Welcome to The Place in King’s Lynn - a platform giving local creatives a place to thrive

Supporting small business owners and creatives is at the forefront of The Place - a multi-use community space available to hire.

The venue, on New Conduit Street, has quickly become a staple in Lynn’s town centre and regularly holds events, workshops, seminars and more.

The Place is the brainchild of King’s Lynn BID (Business Improvement District) manager Vicky Etheridge, who came up with the concept just after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Survey results showed that a pop-up space was needed in the town centre,” said Vicky.

Thanks to a Community Renewal Fund and money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, The Place has been able to remain open for another year.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is part of the government’s levelling-up agenda and provides funding for local investment.

It aims to provide an affordable and supportive space for budding business owners to try out selling their handmade products to members of the public in the heart of the town centre as well as building connections with other small business owners.

The Place is used in several different ways including for NHS awareness campaigns and recruitment, as well as health checks.

Vicky explained that a lot of small businesses began during the pandemic while people were furloughed and had the opportunity to try their hand at creating things.

The Place offers a space for stallholders to come and sell their handmade goods, from jewellery and candles to macramé, baked goods and more.

“We are trying to support and encourage solopreneurs and small businesses who have started at their kitchen table,” Vicky said.

There is excitement building up in The Place as several stallholders are planning on hosting their own creative workshops to teach others their craft.

It will give anybody the chance to have a go at the likes of sewing, candlemaking and more - with an aim of offering more activities for those to do in town.

A number of groups regularly use The Place to hold events, including the social group for young professionals Platform 30, which held a “paint and sip” session in the venue.

Other small businesses who have used The Place have since gone on to open their own venues, including owner of Hunstanton’s Honeypots Studio Charlotte Pratt and Support Local Hunstanton run by Lucy Johnson.

It also provides an area for hotdesking, for people such as homeworkers to come and use the space to work in town.

Vicky described how workers from different backgrounds enjoy coming together to chat while they work.

The Place is available for businesses and individuals to hire out during the week, evenings and at weekends.

The team at The Place are open to taking on suggestions on what the hub could be used for.

The building used to house Ann Summers, but has since had a complete refurbishment to give it a fresher look.

To keep up-to-date with upcoming events and workshops being held at The Place, make sure to follow their Facebook and Instagram pages.