Image credits – Mary Doggett, ETT Photography A grant of £100,000 has completed the fundraising effort for an extension and refurbishment of the Norfolk Events Centre. Previously known as the Norfolk Arena, the building at Norfolk Showground is the largest open indoor space in Norfolk and home to many well-known events throughout the year, including the Adnams Food & Drink Experience at the Royal Norfolk Show. The major grant generously provided by the Garfield Weston Foundation, and a smaller grant from New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership of £25,000, means that the £750,000 project can now go ahead. The building works will add an extension to the main exhibition hall to provide space for break-out rooms, kitchens, bars, toilets, and equipment storage. The new extension will allow more conferences to utilize this space and transform the large space into two smaller conference venues. The venue will be able to host 600 dinner layouts and a smaller 300-seater venue. This flexibility provides a broader range of space for conferences. The Showground is conveniently located on the edge of the A47 providing easy access with ample free parking on site. Elements of the exhibition hall will be improved including, heating, lighting, and the ability to sub-divide the hall and enable two events to occupy the building at the same time. A tendering process is underway, and it is hoped that the work is completed by October 2023. Fearn Ainsworth, Commercial Development Manager, Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association said: “The completion of this project will transform the Norfolk Events Centre making it a much more usable and versatile venue. Not only will the NEC be able to host large events at scale, but it will also provide a much more attractive venue for smaller events that it currently cannot host. We are enormously grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation and New Anglia LEP for their support.” The extension of the main hall at the Showground will bring new opportunities and experiences for visitors and event organisers including an increase in community use. New equipment for event use is also being purchased as part of this work and will be available for hire. The Showground already hosts many indoor and outdoor events throughout the year including music festivals, conferences, exhibitions and dinner dances. The site is owned by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and all income generated from events and hirings at the Showground is gifted back to the RNAA to support its charitable objectives of promoting food, farming and the countryside in Norfolk. The initial phase of the project, to install PV solar panels, has already been completed and is one of the largest roof-mounted PV projects in Norfolk. The installation will enable an average of 196,471 kWh to be generated each year and is a landmark project for Norfolk Showground. Norfolk Showground and Events Centre is set just outside of the city of Norwich, housing a variety of spaces available for events use and room hire, including 150 acres of landscaped parkland, meeting rooms, and indoor space, including a 3000 sqm arena. For more information please contact the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association on 01603 748931 or visit www.rnaa.org.uk