West Norfolk Mayor's Business Awards 2023: WhataHoot named King's Lynn Champion
“Watch this space” - a town bar team are raring to go ahead of an exciting year after winning big at the Mayor’s Business Awards.
The King’s Lynn Champion award was taken home by staff from WhataHoot, who were praised for the impact they have had on the town centre.
The category was open to levy-paying businesses which are within the town’s Business Investment District, which pay an additional charge to normal rates which is used to improve the area.
The bar, distillery and gin school was first opened up on King Street five years ago by Jason and Nicky Crown, with Jason joking that it was to “keep my wife in a habit”.
He added: “It’s a lifestyle business, we needed to have fun, hence the name WhataHoot. We always have fun as a team every day.
“If you can’t have fun at work, where can you have fun?”
James Noble, in charge of events and hospitality at the venue, joined the team one year ago. He was delighted when they picked up the King’s Lynn Champion award on Friday.
“We’re amazingly pleased. It’s unbelievable, really,” he said.
“I’m the newest member to the team and I just appreciate so much what these guys do.
“I’m just super proud of this award and everything that we’ve achieved. We’ve opened up a new bar, we’ve got some fantastic new products coming in.”
Account manager AJ Bonnett added: “It’s massive, it’s great. The business is going from strength to strength, and trust me - 2023, watch this space.
“We’re going places.”
The team urged customers to keep an eye out on May 4 for some exciting updates.
The category was sponsored by Discover King’s Lynn, the business investment district for the town centre, and judged by Jake Smith of the Duke’s Head Hotel and Kirsty Jonas from Norfolk Chambers.
Vicky Etheridge, of Discover King’s Lynn, said: “This process and the events leading up to it always make me feel so proud, uplifted and grateful to be in the role that I am, working alongside these fantastic businesses and their teams.
“I think it’s fair to say that those seven businesses here tonight have really shown that our high street and town centre is alive and well, so please carry on supporting it.”
