A lifeboat station and its crew are seeking a new venue for their 200th birthday party after the closure of a nightclub.

The Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station was planning to hold its bicentenary ball at at the Ocean Room on May 18.

But the venue's sudden closure has forced the local RNLI to cancel the ball, at least for now.

Albert Cadmore, station chairman, said: "We were saddened to hear of the closure of the Ocean Room, not least because plans were well advanced for our RNLI Bicentenary Ball, which was destined to be our biggest and best yet."  

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Ocean Room in Gorleston, which closed suddenly on March 1.The Ocean Room in Gorleston, which closed suddenly on March 1. (Image: Anthony Carroll)

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The cancellation was "a great loss to the lifeboat station and its crew", he added.

Mr Cadmore also expressed the station's concern for Kelly Edwards and Ben Jay, who ran the Ocean Room and "always worked tirelessly to keep things going there, against the odds".  

He apologised to those who had already committed to attending the ball. 
 
In the meantime, he would like to hear from anyone who knows of a venue that could accommodate the event.