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

Andrew TurnerBBC News, Norfolk, Gorleston-on-Sea
News imageArnold Keys The Ocean Room, a large rotunda building in the Art Deco style on Gorleston sea front. In the foreground is the roof of the Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, which features a barrel felt roof and four copper domes. To the left is the Pier Hotel, an 1880s brick building with white windows. There is a lawned area and bandstand to the right of the Ocean Room, and the golden sand beach and the North Sea to the centre/top of the image.Arnold Keys
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."

News imageAndrew Turner/BBC The Ocean Room is an Art Deco rotunda building, painted grey and white. It features steps up to the front doors, above which is the sign reading: "Ocean Room". There are hand rails on the roofline, a symbol of when the roof was used as a public sun terrace.Andrew Turner/BBC
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.

News imageAndrew Turner/BBC A series of gold and red coloured velour arced banquette seats, surrounding the dark coloured dance floor. Part of the circular, arced ceiling is visible, painted in a plum colour, featuring a decorative lattice-work lantern in the centre.Andrew Turner/BBC
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.''

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