Gorleston Ocean Room closure worries local traders

The Belle Vue Inn and The Shed Tapas bar are both located on Quay Road - the route that most people would have taken on their way to the Ocean Room.

Traditionally, both businesses enjoyed a share of passing trade from customers heading for a night out at the venue.

But last week, the Ocean Room operators, Kelly Edwards and her cousin Ben Jay, announced the business had gone into administration, marking an end to three generations of family ownership.

Fans at a Blur concert at the Ocean Room in Gorleston in 1995. (Image: Archant)

They said their current situation was "untenable" due to the long-lasting effects of the cost of living crisis and the pandemic.

For Martin Edwards, who runs The Shed with his wife, the news was "another nail in the coffin" for the local hospitality industry.

"It's definitely going to have an effect on the amount of footfall we're going to get going past us," he said.

The Shed tapas bar, on Quay Road in Gorleston, will feel the effects of the closure of the Ocean Room. (Image: James Weeds)

"Ninety percent of the people who go to the Ocean Room would have to go past us. That's just not going to happen anymore.

"We often get people who come in when there have functions like Bongo Bingo and music events.

"People often come into ours before they go there.

"Even the Bongo people themselves would come here before they perform."

Mr Edwards said the early trade they got from the Ocean Room "made a lot of difference".

"It would give you two sittings on one night, with people leaving at 7pm or 7.30pm and then another group of people coming in.

"That's not going to happen anymore," he said.

"It's another nail in the coffin. We're being hammered everywhere. There's business rates, electricity, minimum wage is going to cost us an extra £1,000 a month."

READ MORE: What should happen with the Ocean Room in Gorleston?

David Taylor, landlord at the Belle Vue Inn on Quay Road in Gorleston, said the closure of the Ocean Room was devastating. (Image: Supplied)

David Taylor, landlord at the Belle Vue pub, which he took over in August 2020, said: "It's devastating news for us. We will lose a lot of customers.

"I will probably lose a couple of thousand pounds a week in trade.

"We get a lot of passing trade from them, especially with the kickboxing events, which are one of our busiest nights, probably busier than New Year's Eve.

"It's a big shock. I didn't know it was coming."

The Belle Vue Inn on Quay Road in Gorleston will lose a lot of footfall following the sudden closure of the Ocean Room. (Image: Supplied)

Mr Taylor said the closure was a shame for the families who ran the Ocean Room. 

"It's just horrible. You put your heart and soul into it.

"But with electricity prices and the way all the bills are going at the moment, I'm probably not far behind them," he said. 

"I'd like to see it reopen as soon as possible. Maybe open for more nights, maybe family nights on Thursdays like when I was younger."

The building is owned by Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) and was being leased by the Ocean Room.

Great Yarmouth Borough Councillor Emma Flaxman-Taylor said she could not speculate on the future of the Ocean Room. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Emma Flaxman-Taylor, Conservative borough councillor for Gorleston ward, said: "It's a huge loss to the community because it's such an iconic building.

"The Jays and the Edwards had it for a considerable amount of time.

"It's very disappointing."

She said the council was still in discussions with the family and was "waiting for an update so we can discuss it moving forward".

She said she could not yet speculate on the future of the venue.

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

Blur played a concert in the Ocean Room in Gorleston at the height of Britpop in 1995. (Image: Archant)

READ MORE: It’s Las Vegas to Gorleston for Iron Mike Tyson

Mr Edwards said it was "sad" the closure was "allowed to happen".

"I would have thought the council could have done more to negotiate with them to get them to stay," he added.

The Ocean Room 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 the venue in 1995 and Mike Tyson gave a talk there in 2012.