After more than 30 years of helping homeless and lonely folk a hardy bunch of volunteers are not sure if their event will have a home next Christmas.

Norwich Open Christmas marked it is 32nd anniversary at The Halls on Christmas Day, but with the historic venue now closed for refurbishment it is feared the event will not be able to find suitable premises for the next festive season.

Bill Ashton, chairman of the charity's trustees, said: "At the 2023 event we saw an increased number of families with younger children attending.  

Norwich Evening News: Now, the charity are desperately searching for 2024 premises Now, the charity are desperately searching for 2024 premises (Image: Grace Batterham)

“We listened to many stories including a couple who had recently lost their jobs and were struggling financially.  

“There was also a lady who had plans to go to her son's for Christmas, but he had called Christmas Eve and cancelled, she had come to the event because she didn’t want to be alone.” 

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Many people who attended were also facing bereavement, divorce or were away from their families due to education.  

Norwich Evening News: The event gives a chance for those who would otherwise be alone to enjoy a traditional Christmas together The event gives a chance for those who would otherwise be alone to enjoy a traditional Christmas together (Image: Grace Batterham)

Without a new venue the charity is worried people like these will be alone on Christmas Day this year.  

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The Halls, a grade I listed building in St Andrews Street, is set to close for the entirety of 2024 as part of a £3.6m revamp as essential work is carried out.  

Other popular events have also been left scrambling for a new venue including Norwich Beer Festival, which may be spread across different pubs this October instead.

Norwich Evening News: The Halls will be closed for the entirety of 2024 amid £3.6m revamp The Halls will be closed for the entirety of 2024 amid £3.6m revamp (Image: Newsquest)

Bill continued: “This Christmas was a bittersweet occasion as we will not be at St Andrews Hall in 2024.

“Concerns were raised by many guests who, like us, are concerned we may not be able to put on Norwich Open Christmas unless we find suitable premises.  

“We are looking for a suitable venue in central Norwich which has wheelchair access, a dining area to accommodate 350 guests, a commercial kitchen and easy access for delivery.  

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“If anyone has suggestions, they should contact us via the Norwich Open Christmas website.” 

Norwich Evening News: The 2023 event saw some 400 guests served a full Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings The 2023 event saw some 400 guests served a full Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings (Image: Grace Batterham)

800 pigs in blankets!

Christmas saw one of the busiest events to date for Norwich Open Christmas, with some 400 guests to feed, clothe and entertain.  

The charity took on the challenge with enormous success.  

To pull off an event of this magnitude and ensure its guests left with full stomachs, its small army of volunteers had to tie up their aprons and do some serious cooking.  

They served 39 turkeys cooked to perfection, 800 popular pigs in blankets, an enormous 100 kilos of potatoes, 65 kilos of sprouts and 80 kilos of carrots and parsnips.  

The charity's chairman, Bill Ashton, said: “That is an awful lot of peeling and cooking, and on top of that there was of course enough Christmas pudding and Christmas cake to feed all 400 of the guests.”