Broadland District Councillor Caroline Karimi-Ghovanlou, alongside Chairman of Sprowston Town Council Bill Couzens, officially opened the Viking Community Building in Sprowston on Saturday, 12 April.
The building reopened its doors following an extensive refurbishment and extension, marking a new chapter for this historic site. Originally built in 1956 as the Viking Pub, the building has been transformed into a modern, multi-purpose community hub. The renovation was led by the town council, who invested almost £2 million of Community Infrastructure Levey into the project.
Cllr Karimi-Ghovanlou praised the project, stating, “The time, work, and effort that has gone into transforming and preserving this landmark building at the heart of the community is to be applauded. The town council has created an incredible, vibrant space, perfect for local events and activities, that can be enjoyed by the whole community for many years to come. It is so nice to see Community Infrastructure Levey being used to support the local community in this way.”
Sprowston Town Council acquired the site in 2021 with the vision of converting and extending the building to better serve the local community. The refurbishment included the addition of a large single-storey extension, creating 1,991 square feet of new floor space.
The ground floor now features a large multi-purpose community hall and two self-contained function rooms, each equipped with storage, toilets, and tea-making facilities. A café bar, Longboats and Lattes, has been created in the centre of the building, complete with its own toilet facilities and a stock room in the cellar. The first floor has been converted into three small office units. A community shop will open next month.
For more information about the Viking Community Building and upcoming events, visit the Sprowston Town Council’s website.
