As they move closer to building Norwich Backpackers, they are looking for interesting ways to fund the build and develop Norwich’s first backpackers hostel.  Over the last few months lots of people have expressed an interest in investing and that’s got them thinking.

“The traditional way to fund a project like this is with a bank loan, but wouldn’t it be great if we could fund this in a whole new way, offering shares to our customers and business contacts!  We thought we should put the idea out there and see whether people are interested.” said Jason Borthwick, the project developer.

Jason continued, “Our initial thoughts are that we could offer shares for £1,000 each and that any one customer or business contact would be allowed to buy up to 100 shares (ie £100,000).  There are many rules and regs of a private limited company and lots of details to work out, but while we do that we thought we’d see whether the idea had legs.”

Interested investors are asked to fill out the short online at: www.norwichbackpackers.co.uk/investing-in-norwich-backpackers/

Anyone expressing an interest won’t be agreeing to buy anything, simply expressing an interest.  The Norwich Backpackers team will be back in touch in due course with further details as they become available.

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Keep an eye on plans for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2012 and beyond – www.nnfestival.org.uk

Building work should start on schedule before the end of the year on Norwich’s first backpackers’ hostel, bosses said today.

Plans to turn the former Ferry Boat pub into a backpackers’ hostel were given the go-ahead by city councillors earlier in the year.

The former King Street pub, which is a grade II listed building, will be turned into a 200-bed hostel by Alister Borthwick and his son Jason, who created the award-winning Deepdale Farm campsite on the north Norfolk coast.

Jason Borthwick said: “We are working our way through the pre-building conditions and hope to be building this side of Christmas.

“There is lots to do before we start in earnest, but the structural plans are coming on well and we’re getting closer to choosing our preferred suppliers for each part of the build.”

The pub, near the Riverside complex, has been sitting empty for nearly five years, and the owners hope the hostel will be open by April next year in time to host the European Hostel Conference.

As reported, the Borthwicks plan to turn the building into an eco-friendly hostel with cycle and canoe hire and a cafe and tourist information centre.

The main pub will not change much at all with the downstairs front bar set to become a real ale appreciation shop/bar, selling off-sales with a few beers on tap and the upstairs remaining a flat for tenants.

The boat house and music room on the site will be replaced with a boat shed that will house accommodation, the cycle hire and canoe hire barn, plus the café by the river.

A new warehouse style building, which will house most of the accommodation for the hostel, will be built over the car park, and the old beer store by the car park will be recycled to build the new reception/visitor information centre that links the old pub building with the new hostel.

For more information on the project visit www.norwichbackpackers.co.uk.

Are you about to transform a city building? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk

Norwich Evening News – Journalist: David Bale – 23/8/11

Picture courtesey of Norfolk & Norwich Festival – Photographer: Dave Gutteridge

Norfolk & Norwich Festival aims to use the transformational nature of the arts, culture and creativity to bring about positive change for individuals, communities and the spaces in which they live. The organisation works with local, national and international partners to deliver the annual Norfolk & Norwich Festival each May, Norfolk Open Studios and Creative Partnerships, the Government’s flagship creative learning programme.

Visit www.nnfestival.org.uk for more information

Picture courtesey of Norfolk & Norwich Festival – Photographer: Sophie Laslett

Norfolk & Norwich Festival aims to use the transformational nature of the arts, culture and creativity to bring about positive change for individuals, communities and the spaces in which they live. The organisation works with local, national and international partners to deliver the annual Norfolk & Norwich Festival each May, Norfolk Open Studios and Creative Partnerships, the Government’s flagship creative learning programme.

Visit www.nnfestival.org.uk for more information

Picture courtesey of Norfolk & Norwich Festival – Photographer: Rod Penn

Norfolk & Norwich Festival aims to use the transformational nature of the arts, culture and creativity to bring about positive change for individuals, communities and the spaces in which they live. The organisation works with local, national and international partners to deliver the annual Norfolk & Norwich Festival each May, Norfolk Open Studios and Creative Partnerships, the Government’s flagship creative learning programme.

Visit www.nnfestival.org.uk for more information

Today at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 – Day 16

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Today at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 – Day 15

Well worth subscribing to the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/user/NNFestival11

Today at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 – Day 14

Well worth subscribing to the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/user/NNFestival11

Today at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 – Day 13

Well worth subscribing to the Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2011 YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/user/NNFestival11