Gorleston's Ocean Room to be put up for sale a year after closure
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.''
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.
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.
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