Father and son Alister and Jason Borthwick, who run Deepdale Farm at Burnham
Deepdale, aim to develop the site of the former Ferry Boat pub in King Street,
which has fallen into disrepair and been boarded-up since closing in 2006, and
open the hostel in 2011.
The Borthwicks are now planning the new eco-friendly hostel with mainly
private en-suite rooms and family rooms, and a few dorms.
Alister Borthwick said: "Norwich's YHA (Youth Hostel Association) closed over
seven years ago and no other backpacker hostel accommo-dation is available, yet
the city and the surrounding area fit perfectly with the backpacker market."
The hostel will offer canoe and cycle hire and Jason Borthwick said the new
venture would create jobs by working with local businesses.
The new owners, who are behind the award-winning, eco-friendly tourism
facilities at Deepdale Farm on the north Norfolk coast, have planning permission
for extensions and alterations and for a new building at the back of the pub
providing a riverside dining and bar lounge facility.
Alister Borthwick said: "We plan to lease out the hostel, much as we have
done at Deepdale, and the canoe hire, cycle hire and café may go to the same
tenant or to separate tenants depending on who approaches us.
"We know groups like Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) are keen to see the pub
reopen. We definitely feel a small real ale pub on the site would be an
excellent addition. This might be run by the tenants of the hostel or as a
separate entity."
Caroline Jarrold, chairman of Visit Norwich, welcomed the news, saying: "I
think it's a great idea as there are no premises of that type near the city
centre. It's a wonderful opportunity to attract different types of tourists to
come here. It has also been such a shame to see how the former pub has been
boarded-up for so long."
People can follow the development by visiting
www.norwichbackpackers.co.uk
