About The Ice House

A Grade II listed building of brick construction with a thatched roof, the Great Yarmouth Ice House, once one of a pair, is now the only one of its kind left in the country. As support and investment have been raised, Out There Arts has been developing the project and is set to realise it in full throughout the rest of the year and beyond. After years of careful restoration, it is now reimagined as a bold cultural centre for creativity, heritage, and community.

The building has been repurposed into an arts and circus training hub, with a unique interior ideal for fluid movement and a collaborative focus. This imaginative and creative use of the building will further develop the town’s reputation as the capital of circus in the UK as well as further link the town’s fishing and circus heritage.

The Ice House is now a national centre for outdoor arts and circus, thanks to a £2M grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund. Further funding for the project includes £450,000 from Great Yarmouth Town Deal Funded by HM Government, £350,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund, £50,000 from the Great Yarmouth Borough Council and £20,000 from Brineflow as well as match funding from Out There Arts who are managing the project.

The History The historic building, located at the Southtown end of Haven bridge, built between 1851 and 1892 was originally a key asset in the town’s fishing industry.

In the mid 19th century the landmark Ice House was at the forefront of an industrial revolution that would see the town’s fortunes soar. It was built at the same time as Southtown railway station, meaning freshly caught fish could be packed using the ice stored in the building and transported to London’s Billingsgate fish market, reaching a whole new consumer base. With a capacity for over 42,500 cubic metres, packed ice could stay frozen for months ensuring a steady supply of fresh herring to the capital and beyond. However, advances in modern technologies saw it overtaken and overlooked, serving for a time as a grain store for JH Bunn who also renovated it in 1980.