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Keen-as-mustard reporters launch condiment campaign

A famous tourist attraction under threat of closure has sparked a rallying cry from a daily newspaper.

The Norwich Evening News is calling for readers to back its campaign to save the city’s Colman’s Mustard Shop and Museum which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Multi-national food giant Unilever, which now owns Colman’s, is currently reviewing the future of the attraction.

Evening News environment reporter Kate Scotter, who is leading the campaign, said: “The Mustard Shop is an important symbol of Norwich’s heritage and our past.

“Colman’s mustard is world renowned and people come from all over the world to the shop and museum to learn about the history and to buy souvenirs to take home.

“The shop itself may have only existed for 35 years but it represents nearly 200 years of Colman’s mustard and a massive part of our history.

“People come to Norwich expecting there to be a mustard shop and it would be a huge blow to the city if we lost it.

“We’ve already lost our chocolate factory and the Norwich Union name, we must fight to keep this bit of our heritage.”

The Archant-owned Evening News is carrying daily stories and updates about the campaign and has also launched an online petition which will be sent to Unilever management.

It has also been backed by Norwich’s tourism industry, civic leaders and MPs.

The museum and shop are believed to be the only one of its type in the world.

Visitors can learn about the company’s history and what it has brought to the area since Colman’s was first born in 1814.

The attraction opened in 1973 and is a careful replica of Victorian trade premises, containing many items borrowed from archives alongside photographs and storyboards.

Kate added: “Norwich Airport has just started having direct flights from Barcelona.

“We were doing a story about that and asked where the visitors were going. The first stop on their itinerary was the shop.”

Michael Nutt, managing director of tourism body Visit Norwich, told the Evening News: “We wholeheartedly support the campaign to save one of Norwich’s most iconic visitor attractions associated with a brand known the world over.”

Comments

Dave Colville (10/07/2008 10:22:00)
Good luck indeed. The BEST mustard money can buy AND undoubtedly a part of our national heritage.

John Marais (11/07/2008 09:07:10)
I have a high opinion of Norwich as a city, and often recommend people to visit, and always mention the Mustard shop as an intersting feature. It portrays a part of Norwich’s history. Surely it’s worth preserving – it can’t be all that expensive to run.

Mustard Company (13/07/2008 19:01:27)
Colman’s Mustard Shop and Museum is indeed an unique experience and well known by Mustard lovers from The Netherlands. We from the Mustard Company in the Netherlands support the campaign to save this attraction!