The Ocean Room on Gorleston seafront to close down

The Ocean Room in Gorleston has gone into administration, marking an end to three generations of family ownership.

It has hosted everything from live music, discos, club nights and boxing matches to dinner dances, charity events, variety shows, family fun dances and award ceremonies.

Blur famously played there.

For many in and around Gorleston, attending the club was a generational rite of passage.

The current operators, Kelly Edwards and her cousin Ben Jay, have called their current situation "untenable" due to the long-lasting effects of the cost of living crisis and the pandemic.

The venue was first taken over by the Edwards family in 1975 (Image: Archant Library)

Ms Edwards said there has been a "huge change in habits" since 2020.

READ MORE: When boys and girls went wild for Blur at ‘secret’ seaside gig

"Our first event back from Covid - which would usually bring in over 700 people - had an attendance of 75," she explained.

"We have battled so hard to adapt and evolve what we do - we've invested heavily in the hope we can turn things around."

It was formerly a dance hall (Image: Archant Library)

Mr Jay added: “Night time entertainment venues have taken the longest time to recover since the pandemic, and larger venues such as ours no longer seem viable.

READ MORE: Seaside venue launches 'ocean terrace' and line-up of live acts

"Unfortunately, there has been little to no national or local government support through this time.

"This has created a huge debt we have not been able to overcome.”

It has hosted a range of community events, as well as its legendary disco nights (Image: Archant Library)

The 1995 Afternoon Tea Dance (Image: Archant Library)

A.B.C. showgirls entertain at the disco in 1977 (Image: Archant Library)

Gordon and Olive Edwards took over ownership of the business, formerly a dance hall named Floral Hall, in 1975.

Russell Edwards and wife, Kim Edwards, ran it from 1991 when Gordon died. 

READ MORE: Looking at back at more than 80 years at the Ocean Room nightclub

Both of Russell's daughters, Kelly and Georgia, were also involved from a young age and its current operators took over directorship after his retirement in 2018.

Blur played a 'secret' gig on the Ocean Room stage at the peak of Britpop in 1995 (Image: Archant Library)

Fans flocked to the coast to catch a glimpse of the group (Image: Archant Library)

People began queuing from 8am (Image: Archant Library)

Ms Edwards said she felt especially upset for her team of "wonderful staff".

"We are like a real family here with some people having worked with us for over 30 years," she said.

“It will be an emotional goodbye to a place which has had a special place within our family for nearly 50 years.

"We just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us across the years and created so many incredible memories.”