Kathleen Kennedy's Memories of Leisure and Entertainment in Great Yarmouth

Photo:Kathleen Dewhurst (then) sat on the wall outside The Norfolk Hotel in1971

Kathleen Dewhurst (then) sat on the wall outside The Norfolk Hotel in1971

Courtesy of Kathleen Kennedy

Photo:Kathleen Dewhurst at the South Denes caravan park in 1971

Kathleen Dewhurst at the South Denes caravan park in 1971

Courtesy of Kathleen Kennedy

Photo:Kathleen Dewhurst at the South Denes caravan park in 1971

Kathleen Dewhurst at the South Denes caravan park in 1971

Courtesy of Kathleen Kennedy

Photo:The Landlady of The Bath Hotel Vera Perks and two bar staff taken in 1977

The Landlady of The Bath Hotel Vera Perks and two bar staff taken in 1977

Courtesy of Kathleen Kennedy

Memories of pubs, theatres and the seafront

By Laura Matthews

Pubs and Clubs

The Tower was a popular place to go as groups played there on Saturdays, underneath was Esidorus Disco for very young teenagers. There was a Dixieland Show bar in the Aquarium as well as a cinema.

Over the Vauxhall Bridge was a Night club called Broadway I think its an old peoples home now

There was a Pub on the front called The Crows Nest and The Bath Hotel I think they are both amusement arcades now. There was the Norfolk Hotel that had a very popular bar for all ages at the front of it. There was the Biergarden at the front of Wellington Pier, which was used for indoor roller skating during the winter. There was a Bar called The Steam Packet on the front and a Hotel called The Cavendish.

Boat Trips

Every morning, afternoon and when the nights were light in summer The Golden Galleon would set off from the Haven Bridge for a trip on the Norfolk Broads. At the other side of the Haven Bridge The Norwich Belle would set of and sail on a trip round Scroby Sands. There were also two small boats from the beech that also sailed to Scooby Sands. Caister old Lifeboat used to do trips to the Berney Arms Windmill.

Theatres

The Windmill Theatre that had all the stars that appeared there engraved on the pavement outside. There was also a Theatre at the end of both the Wellington and Britannia Piers and a bar called the Mermaid at the beginning of Britannia Pier I think it got its name changed to the Mexican bar. There were a few coffee bars called Vetessies.

Caravan Park

The South Denes Caravan Park was full of caravan's from the pleasure beach to the Harbour Mouth in summer it cost £50 to put a caravan on the season, they got taken off for winter by their owners.

This page was added by Laura Matthews on 22/11/2007.
Comments about this page

My dads mum is a Meadow, and that was her dad who had the wheel barrows in Gt Yarmouth. Love too know more!!! Jayne

By jayne harrison
On 14/01/2011

I remember the Broadway Hotel. Used to have a lot of dos there with my American friends. Also had a brief fling with Janice the owner's daughter. I remember she was so proud of her car purchase with the licence number CEX ... an old Rover 90.

By Richard Bricknall
On 16/09/2019

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