Great Yarmouth's Iron Duke pub to be restaurant and bar

The derelict Iron Duke pub overlooking Great Yarmouth seafront has become a hive for petty crimes over the past decade while the building has sat idle.

However, eagerly anticipated plans for the restoration of the empty building are gathering pace after the submission of the final details of the scheme to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Darren Barker of the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust (brown coat), Ian Hacon co-owner of Zaks and Chris Carr, co-owner of Zaks stood inside what will be the 'Duke's Bar' (grey scarf black jacket). (Image: Sonya Duncan) An artistic impression of how the 'Duke's Bar' could look after a revamp (Image: Submitted) The first stage application to The Heritage Fund was approved in January 2023 and since then the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust and commercial partners Zaks have worked with a team of architects, consultants and other experts to formalise their ambitions for the place.

Providing their plans are approved by the Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the partners plan to rename the business to the Iron Duke by Zaks.

A look around the Iron Duke pub in Great Yarmouth - the room which will be the ‘Dukes Bar’ (Image: Sonya Duncan) The ground floor of the building will be divided into two parts when customers enter from the front - on the left as you come in will be the Iron Chop House, a restaurant, and on the right will be Dukes Bar, for drinkers.

The restaurant will be a "bright and airy open kitchen and grill" with display fridges so guests can see what will be cooked.

A look around the Iron Duke pub in Great Yarmouth - the room which will be the ‘Iron Chop House’ (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Chris Carr, co-owner of Zaks said: "To be clear to people this will not be a burger bar, and the name Chop House is to incorporate the fish dishes, vegetable dishes and meat dishes we will offer.

"We are excited by this new concept of a restaurant that is supported by what Zaks has done for many years.

"We want to make the place a destination rather than just a restaurant."

A look around the Iron Duke pub in Great Yarmouth - the room which will be the ‘Iron Chop House’ (Image: Sonya Duncan) An artistic impression of how the 'Iron Chop House' restaurant area could look (Image: Submitted) In addition, the management team hope to produce net zero food waste and will only purchase ingredients from local suppliers such as butchers, greengrocer and fishmongers.

The plan for the pub is for it to be "warm and cosy" providing "bar food" and sometimes "light entertainment".

A look around the Iron Duke pub in Great Yarmouth - the room which will be the ‘Iron Chop House’ (Image: Sonya Duncan) In addition, there will be a terrace at the front which opens into a front beer garden.

In the past, the buildings upstairs provided accommodation for the pub manager.

But now, the upstairs will be transformed into two-holiday flats with the idea of ensuring that the investment will allow a "long-term viable solution".  

There will also be a roof terrace for one of the rooms.

The flat roof of the building will have solar panels laid on it.

Upstairs inside the Iron Duke (Image: Sonya Duncan) Upstairs inside the Iron Duke (Image: Sonya Duncan) Upstairs inside the Iron Duke (Image: Sonya Duncan) Exterior to the Iron Duke (Image: Sonya Duncan) View from the rooftop of the building (Image: Sonya Duncan) Darren Barker of the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust (brown coat), Ian Hacon coowner of Zaks and Chris Carr, co-owner of Zaks (grey scarf black jacket). (Image: Sonya Duncan)