Mums are popping into the pub on the school run – as Norwich bars serve up breakfasts and coffee in a bid to boost their trade.

This week it emerged that pub chain JD Wetherspoons now sells more cups of coffee than pints of Foster's after opening its 775 pubs for breakfast.

And in Norwich, Eagle pub boss Nigel Booty decided to open for breakfast as his car park in Newmarket Road is often used by parents dropping off their children at nearby Town Close Preparatory School.

He said that while the breakfast trade can be varied, from anything from just four customers to about 20 to 30, it has encouraged people to come into the pub at other times too. He said: 'Town Close is right opposite us and we do get quite a bit of business from the parents.

'I've always allowed them to use my car park and then take the kids across to the school, so I thought – why not open the doors so that rather than driving off into the city they can get a coffee. It's another way of getting people over the threshold of the pub and a lot of them will come back for dinner.'

The pub offers a full range of coffees, pastries, muffins, full English breakfasts and lighter breakfasts including museli, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. Mr Booty said he particularly tried to appeal to women and on making the pub a welcoming place for them with fresh flowers, a nice atmosphere and a comfortable sofa area. It also offers a loyalty card scheme which gives customers a free coffee and pastry after 10 visits. Julia Hardesty, from Yelverton, visited the pub with her friend Debbie Campling, both of whom had dropped off their children at Norwich High School for Girls. She said: 'This is when I do my socialising because after school you are so busy with family and there's always something to get done in the evenings.'

The Evening News launched its Love Your Local campaign in a bid to support pubs, as many are struggling to survive.

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