Unique business opportunity offered to re-open UK's last surviving Victorian seaside Winter Gardens

Described as a People's Palace of glass, iron and steel, Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens, was built originally at Torquay, and painstakingly reconstructed in 1904 at a prime location on the Norfolk resort's famous Golden Mile.

Today this national heritage gem is on Historic England's buildings at-risk register and in urgent need of conservation and a viable commercial re-use - with Great Yarmouth Borough Council seeking an investor with innovative ideas to work with the authority to rescue it as a major regional attraction for future generations.

The council is inviting tenders for a commercial partner or consortium to propose and run a sustainable business within this historic landmark. The appeal is backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has indicated that funds for repair would be available with a suitable operator on board.

The council has no specific preference over the type of commercial end use suggested and is actively encouraging a range of innovative ideas, supported by robust business plans that include a commitment to ongoing maintenance of the Grade II*-listed structure.

Cllr Graham Plant and Cllr Trevor Wainwright, the council's political group leaders, said: "We've had some exciting informal enquiries and now we hope to identify a commercial partner to place a Lottery bid with us and grasp this unique and outstanding opportunity to save a truly iconic national heritage gem and establish an enterprise in a prime location and really special landmark."

The closing date for tenders is March 20. Visit the tender portal here. https://bit.ly/2LUL8k8 Investors interested in having a conversation about this opportunity can contact Stacy Cosham on 01493 846153 or stacy.cosham@great-yarmouth.gov.uk