Community groups and arts organisations are rallying around Great Yarmouth Borough Council as the town bids to be named the UK's Town of Culture in 2028.

The winner of the inaugural competition will receive a £3 million prize.

Great Yarmouth seafront. (Image: Newsquest)

Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: "2028 is a key year for Great Yarmouth. The beautifully restored Venetian Waterways will turn 100, the Hippodrome 125, the Out There Festival will celebrate its 20th year and of course, the Winter Gardens is set to reopen.

"We host the UK's last remaining purpose-built circus building and the town is the recognised national capital for circus and outdoor arts.

"Our medieval Rows, town wall and seafront heritage buildings sit alongside the neon thrill of the Golden Mile. Town of Culture status would reflect our unique offer."

Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile in the 1990s. (Image: Newsquest Archives)

The council said its concept for the bid will build on three themes reflecting Great Yarmouth's character and future opportunities.

It wants to celebrate the town's people, stories and seaside identity, and showcase its cultural heritage assets.

Debbie Thompson, theatre director at St George's Theatre in the town, said: "Great Yarmouth would be an excellent Town of Culture, with its history of some of the greatest popular artists playing here through to having one of the last thriving hippodrome circuses and the annual international Out There Festival.

St George's Theatre in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Supplied)

"The Town of Culture would bring a huge sense of pride to residents and a real sense of achievement and hope, at a time when we need to bring people together."

The government announced the creation of the first-ever UK Town of Culture competition in January.

Interested towns have until the end of March to submit their expressions of interest.

Great Yarmouth Town Hall. (Image: Denise Bradley)

The strongest towns will progress to a shortlist, where each shortlisted town will receive £60,000 to help deliver their full bids for the competition.

A panel will then select the best small, medium and large towns from the full applications received.

One of these will be named the UK Town of Culture 2028 and receive £3 million, with the other two finalists each receiving £250,000.

Great Yarmouth seafront. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Ruben Cruz, from urban arts organisation Reprezent Project, said: "Great Yarmouth deserves to be recognised as a Town of Culture. It is rich in cultural diversity, heritage and community spirit.

"From murals and street art to festivals and grassroots initiatives, creativity is part of everyday life.

"The town has evolved and has unique cultural features - such as the only Portuguese pavement in the UK, representing the influence of the Portuguese community and its Little Portugal identity."

Unveiling of Great Yarmouth’s Portuguese paving in the town in 2025. (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council)

Great Yarmouth is likely to face stiff competition from across the country and would have to fight off a bid from Lowestoft and a joint bid from Cromer and Sheringham if they are to lift the crown.

What may help Great Yarmouth's bid?

The Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Hippodrome)

Great Yarmouth has several key cultural attractions, a rich maritime history and a vast ongoing regeneration programme which which could help the town's bid to become the first UK Town of Culture.

The Hippodrome Circus with its distinctive Art Nouveau towers is a purpose-built circus building dating back to 1903 and is one of only a small number of permanent circuses worldwide with a sunken ring for water shows.

Great Yarmouth's Venetian Waterways and gardens. (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council)

The Venetian Waterways - created in the 1920s - are a Grade II listed historic park and garden of special interest and have been a focus of restoration works in the town.

Significant progress is also being made on the £19 million regeneration project to restore the Winter Gardens - the UK's last surviving Victorian glasshouse on a seaside promenade - ahead of its re-opening in 2028, when the first UK Town of Culture will have been named.

The Winter Gardens which is undergoing a £19 million regeneration scheme. (Image: Nelson Walker)

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