NORWOOD ROOMS, THE

Built next to the Capitol cinema which had opened two years previous, the Lido Crystal indoor swimming pool opened on the 31 May 1934. In the winter the pool was covered over and used as a ballroom. It was with strict instructions from the Council that a licence would only be granted if a clause forbidding any dancing in swimming costumes was included. The swimming pool did not do well and soon the boards remained permanently over the pool as the dance hall took off.

 In 1958 the hall was sold to Norwich City Football Club Chairman Geoffrey Watling, who already owned The Samson and Hercules ballroom; however, he sold both venues to Mecca in January 1960. It was Mecca who completely restyled the building, first by filling in the pool and then knocking through to the cinema and levelling its sloping floor. Opening in October 1960, the result was a very large and glamorous dance hall.

 Mecca who retained all their own bands brought in Cambridge band leader Chic Applin. Chic stayed for thirteen years and as well as his residency became a major promoter and campaigner of local bands and musicians. He later moved to the Talk of East Anglia when he started his own agency. The ballroom was used on occasion for television’s regional Opportunity Knocks auditions and for the BBC’s Come Dancing. The decline of the venue’s popularity is believed to have been brought on by the increasing number of new clubs opening within the city centre. There was local out-cry when the closure of the venue was announced, however, it didn’t prevent Mecca sticking to its plan for a bingo hall and the last dance for the Norwood Rooms was on the 10th January 1987. The venue still exists today but as a bingo hall.

SCENES: ‘60s Cabaret, Pop / ‘70s Cabaret, Pop