Great Yarmouth Town Hall is all ship shape and ready for Maritime Festival

Overlooking the festival site on Historic South Quay, the Grade II-listed building will be open 10am to 4.30pm on both days, giving visitors the chance to explore the beautifully-decorated rooms, which are also available to hire for weddings and other celebrations.

Families will have a chance to complete the Town Hall Trail, exploring the rich history of the borough through the civic regalia, artworks and other objects on display. The Mayor's Parlour, normally kept locked, will also be specially open with a display of regalia.

The Falcon's Gallery will host an exhibition of works by the Great Yarmouth Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, and there will be displays by the Great Yarmouth, Gorleston and Norwich Model Boat Clubs in the Assembly Room, Supper Room and Rambouillet Room.

In the Assembly Room, visitors will also have a chance to see the impressive 14ft knitted model of Great Yarmouth seafront, made over the course of a year by 90-year-old Margaret Seaman, of Caister-on-Sea.

People will also be able to enjoy refreshments from the café bar while listening to live shanty music from The Rouge Shanties and enjoying a fabulous history display from the Great Yarmouth Minster Preservation Trust. 

Great Yarmouth Borough Council organises the activities at the Town Hall to support the wider festival, which is organised by the Greater Yarmouth Tourism and Business Improvement Area Ltd with the support of local sponsors. Cllr Michael Jeal, the mayor, will lead a special civic welcome on Historic South Quay at 11am on Saturday.

Cllr Graham Plant, chairman of the economic development committee, said: "The Maritime Festival is a long-standing and important part of the borough's events calendar, celebrating our rich maritime heritage while attracting extra visitors in September. The council is proud to play its part by organising the attractions in the Town Hall. 

"Overlooking Historic South Quay, the Town Hall is steeped in the borough's maritime heritage and well worth a visit, especially as there are some exciting things happening inside, including the chance to go into the Mayor's Parlour and see the impressive knitted Great Yarmouth seafront."