Great Yarmouth’s two bears have been named as Hughes officially opens new store

Nine year old Ella Chidlow from Homefield Primary School, Bradwell, won the competition to name the two bears sitting on top of the new Hughes store in Great Yarmouth. The bear statues, once on top of the old Two Bears Hotel on the site, have been in Yarmouth for more than 100 years. (Image: Archant)

Two stone bear statues have been named by a Norfolk schoolgirl to mark the opening of a new store on the east coast.

More than 40 youngsters from primary schools around the region suggested names for the stone bears which sit atop the Hughes Plus electrical goods store in Great Yarmouth.

The bears, which were saved from the old Two Bears Hotel before it was demolished to make way for the Hughes shop, have been called Nelson and Anna.

The epithets were chosen by nine-year-old Ella Chidlow, a pupil at Homefield Primary School in Bradwell, near Yarmouth, who opted for Nelson in honour of the famous admiral and Anna, after the beloved Black Beauty author Anna Sewell who was born in Yarmouth.

The former Two Bears Hotel without the two bears on their plinths.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2014)

Earlier today Ella was joined by Yarmouth mayor Shirley Weymouth and company managing director Robert Hughes to declare the £1.5m store on Pasteur Road officially open.

The 5,500 sq ft outlet has taken 18 months to complete and been built on the site of the derelict Two Bears hotel, which had fallen into such disrepair it could not be redeveloped.

As a 'Hughes Plus' store it offers same day delivery and installation, more stock and a click and collect service.

The shop has been trading for just over a week now and Mr Hughes reported a steady stream of customers.

He said the fact the business had chosen to stay in town demonstrated 'a confidence we have in the areas of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.'

That confidence includes a makeover of the Hughes shop in Gorleston High Street.

One of those who has made the move to Pastuer Road from the former Hughes shop in Yarmouth's Market Place, is Mal Ferris from Bradwell who has worked for the company for 33 years – the longest serving employee at the Yarmouth outlet.

Among the staff who made the move to Pastuer Road from the former Hughes shop in Yarmouth's Market Place is Mal Ferris, from Bradwell, who has worked for the company for 33 years – the longest serving employee at the Yarmouth outlet.