Sir Toby’s Beers Expands to St Saviour’s Yard: A New Chapter in Norwich’s Craft Beer Scene

Sir Toby’s Beers, a beloved craft beer establishment in Norwich, has recently expanded its footprint by opening a new location at St Saviour’s Yard, while maintaining its original stall on Norwich Market. This strategic expansion represents a significant milestone for the business, which has carefully considered this move for years. Co-owner Toby Westgarth describes the new space as “a bit of a home from home from our market stall,” emphasizing their intentional choice to keep the operation intimate and manageable. “We don’t want anything too big,” Westgarth explains, revealing the company’s philosophy of prioritizing quality and atmosphere over size. This thoughtful approach to growth demonstrates Sir Toby’s commitment to preserving the essence of what has made their market stall successful while exploring new opportunities.

The decision to open at St Saviour’s Yard wasn’t made lightly. Westgarth notes that they have been “tracking the project for many years,” indicating a patient, deliberate approach to expansion. Their belief extends beyond the physical space itself to encompass “the area too,” suggesting that the location’s character and community played crucial roles in their decision-making process. This holistic view of their business environment reflects a deep understanding that craft beer culture thrives not just through quality products but through meaningful connections with place and people. By choosing St Saviour’s Yard, Sir Toby’s Beers has positioned itself within a creative ecosystem that complements its artisanal approach to beer.

What makes this expansion particularly noteworthy is the contrast between Sir Toby’s original and new environments. While Norwich Market features approximately 40 food stalls creating a bustling culinary destination, St Saviour’s Yard presents a dramatically different setting. Here, the craft beer shop finds itself among a community predominantly composed of artists and creators, making it one of only four food and drink establishments in the space. This distinctive positioning gives Sir Toby’s Beers a special status within the yard’s creative landscape. Westgarth expresses genuine appreciation for being included in this artistic community, saying they were “really happy to get the nod” and acknowledging the “nice, special feeling to get accepted” into this selective space.

The humility with which Sir Toby’s approaches this new venture is particularly striking. Despite their established reputation in Norwich’s craft beer scene, Westgarth maintains a gracious perspective on their presence at St Saviour’s Yard, stating simply: “We feel like we’re guests here.” This attitude reflects a respectful acknowledgment of the creative community they’ve joined and suggests an understanding that their beer shop exists in service to the larger cultural ecosystem of the yard. Such humility might well be key to their successful integration into this new space, allowing them to build authentic relationships with neighboring artists and creators while introducing their craft beer expertise to a different audience.

From a business perspective, Westgarth views this expansion as creating “healthy competition” for their market stall. Rather than seeing the two locations as potentially cannibalizing each other’s business, he envisions a complementary relationship where both spaces can “coexist” and perhaps even enhance each other’s offerings. This optimistic outlook suggests a confidence in the growing demand for craft beer in Norwich and a belief that different contexts can attract different customers or serve the same customers in different ways. The strategy indicates a nuanced understanding of how multiple locations can strengthen rather than divide a brand, particularly when each space has its own distinct character and community.

Sir Toby’s expansion to St Saviour’s Yard represents more than just a new retail outlet for craft beer; it embodies a thoughtful approach to business growth that values community, creativity, and context. By maintaining their market stall while opening this new location among artists and makers, they’re creating multiple access points to their carefully curated beer selection while also adapting their brand to different environments. Their patient planning, humble attitude, and belief in both the physical space and surrounding area demonstrate a holistic business philosophy that extends beyond simple profit motives to embrace place-making and community-building. As Norwich’s craft beer scene continues to evolve, Sir Toby’s dual-location approach positions them to serve as bridges between different creative communities while maintaining their distinctive identity in the city’s cultural landscape.