Derelict dance venue building could reopen

With new bidders, Graham Plant hopes the building could be reopened by 2028

A derelict building that housed a seaside dance venue could reopen by 2028, after the council found a preferred bidder to take it over.

The Ocean Room in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, was closed in 2024 after the tenants and operators, Ocean Room Entertainments, called in administrators.

The council has evaluated proposals from six bidders after it made the decision to sell the building in April as it was unable to raise finances quickly enough to restore it and carry out "significant works".

Conservative councillor Graham Plant said: "I am confident we can make a use for it or somebody can make a use for it and it will make people happy again in Gorleston."

The building, which dates back to 1939, was previously known as the Floral Hall.

The venue saw acts including Pink Floyd, Blur and more recently Rag'n'Bone man.

While the council has received numerous bids, it ruled out claims the site could be turned into a car park.

Sheila Oxtoby said surveys have identified "significant" work costing millions of pounds needs to be carried out

Mr Plant said the building was "in the hearts" of many local people.

He said: "I went there when I was young but it hasn't been used for that purpose for several years and times have changed."

He hopes the building could be opened by 2028.

Chief executive of the authority, Sheila Oxtoby, said the council had looked at the economic and social value of what the bidders could bring to the area.

However, she said once the council received the building back from previous owners, surveys identified "significant" work costing millions of pounds needs to be carried out.

She said: "What we don't want to do is sell the building and then see it sat there and nothing happens.

"As part of this process we have undertaken due diligence with each of the bidders to ensure through a disposal that we do see life back in Gorleston and that this isn't a building that is just sat there and heaven forbid in years to come that the council is trying to purchase it back again."