Skip to content

Dance venue could go on market a year after closure

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromGorleston on Sea
Andrew Turner/BBC The Ocean Room in Gorleston, with a sign bearing the name above the door. The building is white, with grey art deco pillars. It has three steps to the front entrance, and the end of the building has a staircase built in leading up to what was once a sun terrace.Andrew Turner/BBC
The alternatives to selling the Ocean Room, which include repairing, leasing or demolition, have been deemed unviable

A historic dance venue on the Norfolk coast is due to be put up for sale because the costs of repairing or demolishing it are too expensive.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said surveys estimated about £800,000 would be needed to bring the Ocean Room in Gorleston-on-Sea back into commercial use.

The venue, whose recent shows included hip-hop blues musician Rag'n'Bone Man just before the Covid lockdown in 2020, closed in 2024 as the previous operator - who leased the building from the council - went into administration.

Graham Plant, deputy leader at the Conservative-run council, said: ''There are significant financial risks for the council in it taking on work at the Ocean Room. But doing nothing is not an option and no-one wants to see the building deteriorate.''

Andrew Turner/BBC The interior of the Ocean Room in Gorleston, with bonquette seating in red and gold velour, but with the seat bases missing. The building is circular and is built in the Art Deco style with stylised pasterwork, columns and other features.Andrew Turner/BBC
Many fixtures and fittings had been stripped by the previous tenants who had said the venue lost money following the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown

The 1939 building has a history that includes Pink Floyd, Blur and "grab-a-granny" discos.

The council said the building was returned in a poor state and a number of surveys had been carried out to work out the costs of bringing the building back into use.

An independent report looked at demolition and redevelopment for leisure, residential, hotel, senior living or care home options.

Demolition and redevelopment by the council has been ruled out at this stage, and instead it is recommended the local authority marketed the freehold for three months, and reconsidered options if it failed to attract a buyer.

The council said it had received an offer to lease the Ocean Room but the costs involved meant that was not a viable solution.

Andrew Turner/BBC The Ocean Room, viewed from its roof terrace. It features 1930s Art Deco window features and overlooks the beach to the centre.Andrew Turner/BBC
The Ocean Room, with a sun terrace on its roof overlooking the beach, would need significant repairs including reroofing, rewiring, a new boiler and heating system

Mr Plant, who is also the council's portfolio holder for operational property and asset management, said: "The Ocean Room is a key venue in what is a hugely important area for local people and visitors to Gorleston.

"It is important for everyone that such a high-profile and well-loved venue in such a prominent position is brought back into use as soon as practically possible.

"But given the poor state of repair it is crucial we fully evaluated all the options available to us and that we provide the best value for money in whatever we do.

"Selling the venue would be the best thing we could do in the circumstances."

The council's cabinet meets next Tuesday when it is recommended it formally approves putting the Ocean Room on the market.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More on this story
Related internet links