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Derelict former nightclub to be sold off by council

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromGreat Yarmouth Town Hall
BBC The Ocean Room, a white rotunda building, with grey columns, built in the Art Deco style. The building features entrance doors with signage reading "Ocean Room" above, and to the left is a castellated staircase that leads to the roof terrace. BBC
The Ocean Room in Gorleston closed in March 2024 after the operator went into administration

A council has voted to sell off a former nightclub and entertainment venue because the cost of doing anything else has been deemed too risky and expensive.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) said it was owed £47,100 in unpaid rent by Ocean Room Ltd, which went into administration in March 2024.

A report to the council's cabinet dismissed proposals to renovate, demolish or redevelop the Ocean Room in Gorleston on financial grounds.

Council portfolio holder for property and assets, Graham Plant, said: "Given its location, the building has suffered a level of degradation."

Andrew Turner/BBC The Ocean Room, viewed from the rooftop sun terrace. It features Art Deco style shelters in a round, with views overlooking Gorleston beach and clifftop.Andrew Turner/BBC
A structural survey commissioned by the council said the Ocean Room needs a new roof, re-wiring and new boiler and heating system

In a paper presented to the council's cabinet, it said the cost of demolishing the building - to make way for redevelopment - would cost an estimated £500,000.

It also suggested the cost of repairs would be £800,000 based on a non-invasive survey, but that costs could increase if additional problems were found.

The council said it had marketed the building for lease, but only one formal offer was submitted.

The report said: "Should the council lease the building in its current condition, any rent-free period is likely to be substantial, to enable a future operator to recover the cost of remediation."

The final option, which was recommended, said: "Disposal of the site - this is the lowest risk option to the council but will remove the potential revenue stream from the building for the future."

Andrew Turner/BBC The interior of the Ocean Room, showing scalloped-shaped banquette seating, upholstered alternately in red and gold velour. The ceiling has contours in the Art Deco style, and the floor is raked down towards the dance floor. The bars are visible on the back wall of the building.Andrew Turner/BBC
The interior of the Ocean Room has been stripped of fixtures and fittings and the council said the building would require investment of £800,000 investment to reopen

Mr Plant added: "Given the local importance of the building... it is recommended the freehold of the building is marketed for an initial period of three months."

No councillors asked any questions, accepting the report, and the cabinet voted unanimously to market the building and review the position if there were no expressions of interest.

The building originally opened as the Floral Hall in 1939 and became the Ocean Room in the mid-1970s.

In 2020, the hip-hip blues star Rag'n'Bone Man surprised about 600 people at the venue when he appeared as the mystery guest at a gig line-up of local acts.

Blur also appeared at the venue as part of their seaside tour in 1995.

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