Paddington set to stay in the Cathedral Close for another year

After delighting tens of thousands of visitors and boosting footfall in the city, the much-loved Paddington bench will remain in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral for a further 12 months.

Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) and Norwich Cathedral are pleased to confirm that the city’s Paddington bench will continue to welcome visitors young and old throughout the year ahead.

Since being unveiled in February close to Norwich Cathedral’s beautiful Herb Garden, Paddington has become a must-see attraction, drawing tens of thousands of people eager to snap a photo with the marmalade-loving bear, sit with him enjoying a contemplative moment, or a sandwich!

Stefan Gurney, Executive Director of Norwich BID, said: “Paddington has been a wonderful addition to our city, capturing the hearts of residents and visitors alike.

“From the moment the statue arrived, we saw the positive impact; in February half-term alone, more than 250 people an hour were visiting the bench, with over 70% of them travelling in from outside Norwich. We’re delighted that the statue will remain here for another year.”

The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, said: “Paddington’s message of kindness and curiosity resonates beautifully with the Cathedral’s own spirit of welcome. With 900 years of history, the Norwich Cathedral grounds remain the perfect setting for Paddington to continue bringing joy to people of all ages.”

Norwich was awarded the Paddington bench after winning a nationwide competition. Heartfelt letters sent by city residents made a compelling case for Norwich becoming the home of a 24th specially-commissioned statue, joining a UK and Ireland-wide ‘Paddington Visits’ trail.

One letter from a local primary school pupil read: “I would like to have a real-life Paddington Bear here in Norwich because it will bring lots of joy to people here, and so we can sit with him for lunch if we are lonely and so everyone is very, very happy here in Norwich.”

Other reasons put forward in the winning campaign included Norwich’s proud status as a City of Sanctuary, and its world-class literary credentials as a UNESCO City of Literature and home to the National Centre for Writing.

Pictures: Bill Smith