Dance venue 'won't become car park' as offers made

Great Yarmouth Borough Council says it is pleased the building has attracted multiple offers

Several offers have been received for a historic seaside dance venue after a council decided to sell the freehold.

The Ocean Room in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, closed in March 2024 as the tenants and operator, Ocean Room Entertainments, called in administrators.

In April, Great Yarmouth Borough Council decided to sell the building saying it was unable to raise finances quickly enough to restore it, and that demolition was not viable.

Council leader Carl Smith said: "We will be considering all the proposals [from the bids], but there are currently no plans to turn the site into a car park."

The council said it would market the building for three months, which has led to several expressions of interest that will now be examined

The building dates from 1939 when it was known as the Floral Hall.

A council-commissioned report into the building's condition found structural issues with the steel frame, and said the premises needed rewiring, a new boiler and heating system, and a new roof.

The estimated cost of repairs, based on a non-invasive survey, was £800,000.

However, the report admitted an invasive survey could double that estimate.

The council said among "several" offers, one proposal to have the Ocean Room listed as an asset of community value (ACV), that would give it some protection, was turned down by because it did not meet the necessary criteria.

Had that bid been successful, the council said group behind the bid would have been required to find the funding to make the renovations.

It said several offers had been received and due diligence was being applied to each of the bids.

A non-invasive survey found the building would require £800,000 of repairs, but admitted an invasive survey could double that estimate

Smith added: ''We are pleased the Ocean Room has attracted such interest from potential buyers.

"Doing nothing is not an option and no-one wants to see the building further deteriorate and remain closed with no viable future.

''We would dearly love such a high-profile and well-loved venue in such a prominent position brought back into viable commercial use as soon as practically possible.''