Culture in Norwich: Cheryl Cade Tours
9 February 2026
Culture in Norwich: Cheryl Cade Tours
The saying goes that we ‘eat with our eyes’. But surely, we learn with our stomachs too, right?
That’s where Cheryl Cade Tours comes in. As a World Beer Judge and certified Beer and Cheese Sommelier, Cheryl Cade immerses us into the history and community of Norwich, primarily through local food and drink. Her tours are an experience like no other- entertaining, engaging and, of course, delicious!
With a Cheryl Cade tour, it’s all about authenticity. You’ll get to meet our enthusiastic local business owners and benefit from expert advice, tips and tricks (including the best way to serve your cheese). Ask the questions you’re dying to know the answers to and relax like a local with likeminded company in our city’s many pubs, bars and eateries.
So, it’s no wonder Cheryl’s a finalist for VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2026. (Voting is open from 9 February – 22 March via the VisitEngland website here.) And with English Tourism Week on the way (13 – 22 March), there really is no better time to hop on a Cheryl Cade tour and see (and taste!) a different side of the City of Stories.
Here we speak to Cheryl about everything her tours have to offer!
A Cheryl Cade Tour is a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends and meet likeminded food lovers
Congratulations on being a finalist for VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2026. There’s always such stiff competition, so it’s a fantastic achievement.
A tour is one of the best ways to get to know Norwich. Why is it important for you to showcase the city to visitors?
Thank you, it really does mean a lot. Showcasing Norwich is important not just for visitors, but for locals too. The city is packed with history, but it is not only about the buildings. It’s about the stories of the people who lived here before us and the people who live here now.
Norwich is a real community- I love showing people on my tours the food, drink and wonderful independent businesses, as well as introducing them to the individuals who make the city what it is. I just love showing off Norwich!
Last year you featured on ITV’s This Morning. How have people responded to you being on national TV?
It has been really positive (although my mum would definitely like me to do more TV)! I’ve had extra bookings, and it’s been great to get the word out about my tours, especially the Sausage Roll tour.
It was also lovely to be able to talk about Norwich on a national platform, including a little mention of ‘Naughty Norwich’, which is my newest tour. Overall, it was a great experience and a brilliant boost for the city.
Cheryl’s tours offer an equally fascinating and tasty insight into Norwich’s local food and drink scene
Norfolk’s local food produce is vast and of high quality, so tell us more about your food and drink tours. There’s such a variety, from pastries to spirits, beer and cheese, with history woven in too.
I like to keep things interesting. I can get bored easily, and I know how that feels as a guest on tours. I want everyone to feel included and engaged, so variety is really important to me.
Norfolk has incredible produce. We’re known for some of the best barley in the country and we are also home to award-winning cheeses. That’s why tours like the Beer and Cheese tour were a no-brainer.
From there came the Gin tour, showcasing fantastic local distillers, the Beer and Sausage Roll tour, which grew out of a bespoke request, and my general history tours. Each one combines food or drink with stories of the city, its people and its past.
You’re also a World Beer Judge and a certified Beer and Cheese Sommelier. How do you incorporate this expertise into your tours?
People are often fascinated by judging and ask how we can taste so many beers or cheeses in one day!
I love explaining how judging actually works and getting guests involved. We start with the ingredients, smelling, tasting and understanding what goes into a product before trying the finished version. Then I show people what to look for in a good beer or cheese, how to spot faults, and even simple things like what bubbles up the side of a beer glass might tell you. (Hint: it’s to do with the glass!)
By the end of the tour, people feel confident and empowered in what they’ve learnt. They can take that knowledge away with them and enjoy food and drink in a whole new way.
With Cheryl’s expertise, you’ll be sure to savour our local beers, spirits, history and more to the full
Who can join your tours? Do we need any prior knowledge?
Absolutely no prior knowledge is needed, just curiosity!
Of course, my alcohol tours are for over-18s, but 16 and 17-year-olds can attend with parents because food is involved. My non-alcohol and cheese tours are open to all ages, including dogs if you want to bring them along too!
Accessibility is incredibly important to me as someone with a background in Special Educational Needs. I’m trained in British Sign Language and visual impairment awareness and, as long as I know in advance, I can adapt routes for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. When it comes to food and drink, I always try to cater for dietary requirements, such as gluten-free, wherever possible.
For a first-time visitor, which tour would you recommend starting with? And for those who already know Norwich well, locals included, what would you suggest?
For first-time visitors, my general history tours are a great introduction to the city and its stories.
For locals or people who already know Norwich, the Naughty Norwich tour or my food and drink tours are ideal. They often uncover stories and places that surprise even lifelong residents.
And it’s not just local food and drink. What other tours can we experience with Cheryl Cade Tours?
Correct! Alongside food and drink, I run history-focused tours such as Cathedral to Cathedral and Naughty Norwich (which is strictly over-18). My history tours tend to focus on everyday people rather than famous names, which gives a real human insight into Norwich’s past.
Information on the ‘real people’ of Norwich can be hard to come by, especially for a theme like Naughty Norwich which is more risqué, so you’re likely to find out about people you won’t have before! There are so many interesting tales out there that I keep adding to it!
How would you serve creamy Baron Bigod? With a ginger biscuit like Cheryl?
Can we expect anything new coming in 2026?
Many of my tours start because someone asks, “Could you do a tour about…?”. Which is exactly how the Sausage Roll tour began.
I’m always discovering new stories and ideas, so it wouldn’t surprise me if something new appears in 2026!
Finally, what’s your favourite local cheese, and where can we buy it?
That’s like asking me to pick a favourite child- I genuinely love all the cheesemakers in our region. You can find many of them at local delis, markets and farm shops across Norfolk and beyond.
If I had to give a shout-out, I would say Norfolk White Lady (from Wilton Farm in Hockwold, near Thetford Forest). Becky Enefer’s Brie-style sheep’s cheese is fantastic. I also adore the cheddar-like Smoked Norfolk Dapple from Ferndale Farm (found in Little Barningham in North Norfolk).
And Baron Bigod (from Fen Farm Dairy in Bungay) is always a winner. For something a bit different, I recommend enjoying it with a ginger biscuit.
You can discover more about and book tickets for public and private tours and vouchers for Cheryl Cade’s tours via her website!
And don’t forget to vote for Cheryl as VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar! Voting is open from 9 February – 22 March 2026. Cast your vote via the VisitEngland website here.
