More red phone boxes go up for adoption across Norfolk

As the red phone box approaches its 100th birthday, dozens across the country have been put up for adoption. 

BT introduced the Adopt a Kiosk programme in 2008 in order to find new purposes for disused boxes and 12 more are now available in Norfolk.

Locations include Walsingham, Harleston, King's Lynn and Norwich, and there is no shortage of inspiration for communities looking to transform the boxes. 

Owner Saul Press outside the Beer Hatch in Tombland (Image: Newsquest)

The Beer Hatch, which claims to be the smallest off-licence in the UK, launched inside a red phone box in August 2022. 

The Tombland business has seen huge success and recently expanded, introducing outdoor seating in July. 

Owner Saul Press has now applied to open a bottle shop in the city, close to his trademark phone box. 

Phone boxes in Norfolk have also been home to plant shops, tourist information centres and book exchanges.

Plant shop Simply Cactus previously operated inside the same phone booth (Image: Denise Bradley)

And hundreds of disused phone boxes across the country have been transformed into defibrillator kiosks. 

Martin Fagan, national secretary of the Community Heartbeat Trust, said: “BT's kiosk adoption scheme has given us a great opportunity to increase the number of defibrillators across the UK in recent years.

"To install defibrillators in disused phone boxes is ideal, as they're often in the centre of villages and towns and it means the iconic red phone box can remain a lifeline and focus for the community."

Defibrillator kiosk in Eye, Suffolk (Image: Paul Bottomley)

The kiosks can be adopted by registered charities, community councils and local authorities.

More than 7,200 have been adopted across the country, including 186 in Norfolk. 

BT is continuing to review its remaining estate of payphones now that the majority of people use mobile phones.