Norwich Castle applies to extend its council alcohol licence

Castle bosses are hoping to allow those hiring its newly refurbished Great Hall for weddings and other events to enjoy a tipple in the style of Henry I when he visited the city in 1121.

The castle has applied to Norwich City Council to extend its alcohol licence to the new spaces added as part of the multi-million pound revamp of its keep.

Plans would also see alcohol served to visitors in a number of other areas across the 900-year-old castle.

If the application is successful, the medieval building will be able to serve alcohol between 8am and 11pm in the Rotunda, Rotunda Cafe, restaurant, museum shop, mezzanine, keep roof, benefactors' room and Town Close auditorium as well as the Great Hall.

It comes as the £15m project continues to reinstate floor levels the landmark building would have had in Norman times.

Hannah Jackson, project manager for Norfolk Museums Service, said: "When we are done, visitors will step into the castle and experience what it would have been like when it was first constructed as a royal palace.

"It will give a sense of what it was like when Henry I visited in the 1120s."

Bosses hope the redevelopment will be complete by 2024 with a new glass bridge and lift to enable access to all floors of the castle, including the battlements, set to be installed.

Changes to the entrance will mean visitors can instantly see the walls of the keep - which have, for years, been hidden from view.

The Norfolk bar was previously based at Norwich Castle, as shown here during the 1970s - Picture: Norfolk Museums Service (Image: Norfolk Museums Service)

New toilets - including a Changing Places accessible toilet - have been installed, while work will also see a new shop, restaurant and learning spaces.

The castle has indicated it would like the new alcohol licence to start as soon as possible.