Belvoir Garage

Belvoir Garage is one of the few remaining independent garages in The Golden Guide’s distribution area. Founded in 2005 by Steve and Jo Loombe, the business began life in premises on Belvoir Street but six years ago opened a second, larger workshop on Half Moon Way. The Belvoir St buildings remain the hub of the business, says Steve. It is where most clients drop and collect from. Both sites do all types of work—MOT’s, services, and everyday repairs. Belvoir Garage currently employs 8 people and is looking for a 9th (should anyone be interested there’s a vacancy for a MOT tester/ mechanic). It’s a far cry to how things were at the start when it was just Steve and a fellow mechanic, with Jo helping out in the office. The business remains very much a family affair, with several family members involved. Visit either workshop and there’s a friendly, bustling atmosphere. This is old school service: you will be able to see and speak to the specific mechanic who’s working on your car, for example, rather than having to go through a neutralised third party.

Belvoir Garage can do pretty much anything car-related. When we visited, they were giving a VW campervan a complete overhaul replete with new kitchenette and bed! Also on the ramps were a Hyundai requiring a service, a van from Anglian Water (Belvoir Garage do Anglian Water’s MOT’s), and of course, many other cars. Small, local, independent, and friendly – they are qualities that we want more and more of as we pull out of Covid. Give Belvoir Garage a call for anything car related from mechanical and body repairs to MOT testing.

Belvoir Garage’s workshops are at: 1a Belvoir St, NR2 3AY or Half Moon Way, Waterworks Rd NR2 4EB 01603 622008 01603 611719

Summer’s here and it’s no better time to get those carpets and sofas cleaned! Leigh Sharpe of Clean Living is the man for the job. He set up business just over five years ago, having trained with an ex-army mate in properties such as Windsor Castle, and he passed industry regulated NCCA accredited courses with flying colours. All of this followed a 29-year Army career, from which Leigh retired as a Commissioned Officer, Director of Music of the Band of Dragoon Guards, based at Swanton Morley. The Army background set him in great stead for carpet cleaning. He’s a stickler for detail and is meticulous and organised about how he operates. Put another way, Leigh doesn’t do disorganised jobs!

The system Leigh uses is both client, and environment, friendly. For starters, he will not be dragging a huge square box into your house, plugging it into your mains, and swashing dirty water down your drains or down the pavement outside your house! Instead, a truck mounted system remains on his van throughout the duration of the clean, powered by its own internal, power unit. For those of us with wooden entry floors this is a plus – no scratched surfaces caused by the wheels of heavy machinery. Leigh’s system also has the advantage of being relatively quiet, with much of the noise confined to his van. The only noise there is comes from the hosepipe and suction head that Leigh brings into the house. He’ll use softened water (important in an area like Norwich) and non-toxic, hypoallergenic biodegradable cleaning materials, guaranteed not to leave any sticky residue which can result, a few months down the line, in re-soiling. Carpets and upholstery will dry within two hours, less on a summer’ day. For oriental rugs, Leigh uses a separate machine which – in laymen’s terms – hovers over the rug, causing less friction. He can also clean hard floors, leather upholstery, and oriental rugs.

The results are extremely clean sofas, carpets and rugs, as demonstrated by the many photos on Clean Living’s website. Results are often dramatic, dependent on how dirty upholstery and carpets have become. Being his own boss helps Leigh to enjoy his numerous music commitments which span from playing trumpet in three local orchestras to having been Musical Director in various Maddermarket productions such as ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’ and ‘Joseph’. He also conducts the Cawston Brass Band. Raising funds for Help For Heroes also features in Leigh’s life. This is a busy man – busy cleaning carpets, busy making music, busy raising funds for Help For Heroes.

To arrange a free quotation, please call Leigh on 01603 552062. E: enquiries@cleanlivingnorfolk.co.uk W: cleanlivingnorfolk.co.uk