Locals are in a battle to preserve the future of a 125-year-old bowls club as they confront eviction to pave the way for a new café area.
Members of the Mitres Bowls Club in Norwich have been deeply upset upon being notified that they must vacate the clubhouse and bowling green they have cherished for over a century. A petition with over 500 signatures has been initiated in a bid to rescue the club following the announcement that they must leave by February 1.
Situated adjacent to St Thomas Church in Norwich, the club is being compelled to relocate after its Church of England landlord unveiled intentions to transform the bowls green into an outdoor café spot and a versatile community area.
Vice-president Neville Warnes, aged 63, expressed profound disappointment over the decision, stating, “I’m devastated by everything. I can’t fathom that we are in this predicament.” Neville emphasized that the club held sentimental value beyond just a game of bowls, with the scattering of ashes and the memories shared by past and present members. He criticized the lack of effort in appreciating what the club represents.
He believes that finding an alternative venue would never replicate the legacy created by generations of members. Neville stressed, “There is nowhere else like this; it wouldn’t feel like a club if we relocated. We do not perceive this decision as benefiting the community; it appears to prioritize financial gain and greed.”
Established in 1896 and relocated to its current site in 1901, the club, with approximately 70 members, faces displacement as East Church, which acquired the property in 2016 through its commercial subsidiary STN Trading Ltd, plans to revamp the bowls green into an outdoor space linked to the adjacent Mitre café.
Julie Rust, 66, the club’s first female member three decades ago, voiced the members’ frustration with the proposed changes, stating, “It is incredibly frustrating. There is already a café present. This has greatly upset us. We pay rent and maintain the club entirely.”
Treasurer Annette Warnes, 58, expressed disappointment in the handling of the eviction process, noting, “In the past, the vicar engaged with us and showed interest. This is not how the church should behave; we anticipated a more community-friendly approach.”
David Hart, 60, a recent addition to the club anticipating retirement, lamented the missed opportunity for the bowls community and the broader public.
As members await a response from the Bishop of Norwich in their efforts to salvage the club, a church spokesperson clarified that STN Trading Ltd, a commercial subsidiary of East Church, aims to create a community space and coffee shop accessible to all, with profits reinvested into community projects. The spokesperson assured support for the club during their final season at the current location.
