The future of an iconic landmark on Great Yarmouth seafront is being discussed by community groups ahead of its planned opening in 2026.

The Winter Gardens was once a hive of activity on the seafront.

Over the years, it has housed a ballroom, a popular skating rink and an arcade.

However, the UK's last surviving glass and iron winter garden was closed in 2008 amid safety fears and has remained an eyesore.

Last year, Great Yarmouth Borough Council announced it had received £10m to secure the future of the building in a vision which aims to stay true to its original community use.

The council is currently working with local partners and community groups, including schools and colleges, charities, and advisory forums, to share their plans for the space and collect feedback on initial ideas for the Winter Gardens.

Community-led project Freshly Greated is working with the council to collect people’s stories about visiting the Winter Gardens and what the building means to them.

Following a social media campaign where they asked for people to share their memories of visiting the building, Freshly Greated was flooded with hundreds of comments, with people sharing stories of dances, first dates and roller-skating injuries.

On Saturday, October 15, some of these contributors were invited to the Winter Gardens to explore the inside, learning about the history of the building and discussing the council’s initial plans for the place.

Once the development stage is complete, a public consultation will take place in early 2023. The building is currently scheduled to reopen to the public in the summer of 2026.

In a joint statement councillors Carl Smith and Trevor Wainwright, leaders of the council’s main political parties, said: “It’s really exciting to have community groups and local partners involved in developing ideas for this iconic building, as they are the ones who will benefit from the restoration of this wonderful landmark.”

Back in August last year, the Winter Gardens was announced as one of five transformational heritage projects across the country to be awarded a Heritage Horizon Award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The award will see the iron and glass structure restored to its former glory as a People’s Palace on Great Yarmouth’s seafront.

If you have a Winter Gardens story of your own, share them by taking part in Freshly Greated’s GY Stories project: https://www.facebook.com/freshlygreated/