Former O'Gradys bar in Great Yarmouth to become flats

Applicant Arunas Kulbokas has had a change of use application granted to transform the old O'Grady's Pub, in Howard Street South in Great Yarmouth, into two self-contained properties.

He had seen an earlier bid to give the building a new lease of life as flats, which he lodged in 2021, refused for failing to convince planners that it was no longer "viable" to run as a pub.

The revised plans focused on explaining how losing the building as a pub would have "little impact" on the town.

The former O'Gradys pub in Great Yarmouth (Image: Archant)

Documents say that there is a "wide range of other eating and drinking establishments" within a 500-metre radius, including the Mariners, the Feathers, the Uptown Bar, the Oliver Twist, Wetherspoons, Peggotys, Lady Haven, the Windmill, Market Tavern, Backs,
the Mitre, Tombstones and Allens Bar.

It adds that the old O'Grady's Pub has been "redundant and unused for a considerable period" so it would be more "viable" to the town as homes.

O'Gradys Pub in Howard Street South after a fire in 2005 (Image: Rob Colman) The pub has been derelict for the past decade.

It caught fire in 2005 resulting in a revamp and was a popular night venue during its heyday.

Originally the 18th century building was known as the Silver Herring. In 1977 it became the Oakwood.

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Since 1990 it has had several names, including McCourts, Ringside, Legends, the Burnt Oak, Morgans, Casper Jacks and Harveys. From 2002 to 2014 it was called O'Grady's before closing due to a lack of trade.

O'Gradys bar next to the Mariners pub pictured in 2008 (Image: Google)