People enjoy tours of Winter Gardens for Heritage Open Days festival

Great Yarmouth Borough Council organised the tours so people could learn more about the landmark building and plans for its ambitious restoration.

Ann-Marie Furbur, project co-ordinator at the council, said: ''The response was fantastic — the tours were incredibly popular, with people sharing fond memories of the building, including stories of meeting future spouses!

''There was overwhelming enthusiasm for the Winter Gardens' future, with visitors excited about seeing it restored. We're thrilled by the community support and look forward to offering more tours as the work progresses.''

VINCI Building has been appointed as the main contractor for the first phase of work for the restoration with initial enabling works - including cleaning of the existing ironwork - set to get underway in the next few weeks.

The start of initial construction work follows months of detailed collaboration with stakeholders - including The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Norwich's John Innes Centre and the University of Cambridge Institute of Sustainability - on designs for the renovation of the Grade II* listed building on the Golden Mile.

The UK's last surviving Victorian glasshouse on a seaside promenade is scheduled to open in 2028 and last year The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £12.3 million to the council to deliver its vision for the Winter Gardens - Reimagining the People's Palace, a bold and inspiring programme, restoring the unique historic building to its former glory. The funding has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

Combined with £6 million of investment from the Government's UK Towns Fund and a £500,000 grant from Historic England, the building will also feature community spaces, catering and opportunities for leisure, entertainment and learning.

Councillor James Bensly, Great Yarmouth Borough Council's portfolio holder for Tourism, Culture and Coastal Management, said: ''We want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in this incredible project and are delighted the Heritage Open Days tours were so popular.

''We are determined to ensure we have a nationally and internationally significant landmark at the heart of Great Yarmouth's life, economy and historical legacy. It will provide a unique experience for residents and visitors for decades to come.''

Built between 1878-1881 in Torquay and relocated to Great Yarmouth in 1904, it represents the pinnacle of Victorian cast iron and glass design and engineering. The restoration project has already gained recognition, with architects Burrell Foley Fischer receiving the Architects' Journal Retrofit Award in the Future Reuse category.

HODs is an annual national event that celebrates England's culture and history. During the festival, visitors get free access to buildings that might usually be closed to the public, it also includes a range of other activities.

The Winter Gardens HODs tours were part of a programme of community activities being planned as part of the Winter Gardens restoration. This includes events involving the Roots and the Research Volunteers team which is working with the council as part of its community-led approach and will contribute to shaping the future of the building.