What Happens Next

Much has been said in on-line forums about the ‘eye-sore’ that is now Necton Cafe. Indeed, it has become almost derelict due to neglect and a lack of investment over many years.

We understand that plans have now been approved to demolish the buildings on the site, and erect 31 houses.

In these times, one might have to concede that there is no longer a need for a roadside cafe of this size on this route. Perhaps its heyday has past; perhaps no-one has sufficient imagination to re-invent a purpose for the building; perhaps it’s time to accept that the demand for housing is more urgent.

Nevertheless, some of us have very fond memories of the Rudge family and their cafe. Between the mid 50s and mid 60s, times were good!

2018 Update

It appears that the plans for housing have been abandoned, and in 2017/18, new plans have been approved for a food store/fuel station (Co-opertive Group Foods Ltd) and coffee shop (Costa Ltd).

In mid 2018,  demolition of the old cafe was started.

By 2nd August 2018,  all that was left of the cafe, flat, and fuel station was a heap of rubble!

Traveling from Swaffham towards Necton, the skyline has changed . . .

. . . but Necton church still stands proud.

We’ll definitely stop for a coffee when it’s all finished.

June 2019 Update

The new Co-op store and petrol station opened on Friday 21st June 2019. The Costa coffee store and drive-through is expected to open in July/August.

Rudge Way, a new road entering the site from the A47, links to Tuns Lane (also a new road leading from Tuns Road) at a roundabout on the site. Between the Co-op petrol station and the Costa coffee building is a parking area. The Co-op and the Costa building can be accessed from Rudge Way, or Tuns Lane.

These photos were taken on the Co-op opening day.

The view across to the Co-op store from the parking area.

Jackie Rogers (nee Rudge), complete with scissors(!), was invited to join the Co-op staff and local school children at the opening ceremony.

Looking to the future! 8 charging stations for electric cars.

The new skyline approaching Necton from Swaffham.

Finally, two comments from members of the Rudge family:

“Together with my brothers and sister, we watched the  (business and buildings)  decline with some disappointment. To us, the eventual closing of the business was greeted with sadness which turned to horror as the building, and our old home, changed from a 1960s eye catching landmark to an eyesore.

We are pleased that something positive has, at last, risen from the ashes. We wish the new Co-op store and the Costa Coffee outlet every success and will doubtless call in when we’re in the area.”  Jackie Rogers (eldest daughter of Beatty and Jack Rudge)

[It was completely out of the blue that, in July 2018, the Rudge family were contacted by Vanessa Warbrick of the Northhold Group. Its seems that their company were the new owners of the old Necton Cafe site, and had obtained planning permission for a petrol filling station and a drive through coffee shop. Ms Warbrick discovered this website when researching the history of the area. As a result of that research, the new access road from the A47 was to be called ‘Rudge Way’.]

“Our special thanks go to the Northhold Group and especially Vanessa Warbrick in thinking of us when they chose the name of the feeder road. All of the Rudge family feel it is a great tribute to our parents, Jack & Beatty. Poignantly 2019 is the 55th anniversary of Jack’s death, the 50th anniversary of Beatty’s death and the 30th anniversary of our brother John’s passing.”  Bob Rudge (younger son of Jack & Beatty Rudge)