One of Norwich's landmark buildings - the former Samson and Hercules nightspot - is up for sale for £1.5m. The nightclub in Tombland is being sold on behalf of entertainment group Luminar Leisure with full planning permission for 15 apartments, two townhouses and a ground-floor restaurant.

One of Norwich's landmark buildings - the former Samson and Hercules nightspot - is up for sale for £1.5m.

The nightclub in Tombland is being sold on behalf of entertainment group Luminar Leisure with full planning permission for 15 apartments, two townhouses and a ground-floor restaurant.

Handling the sale is Norwich-based Atkins Property Services as joint agents with London-based CB Richard Ellis.

Miles Atkins, of the Norwich firm, said: "The site has been a centre of entertainment since the war and was once the Samson and Hercules, which will have a lot of memories for local people. Many probably met future husbands and wives there."

Latterly the site hosted the Ikon and 5th Avenue nightclubs and was previously Central Park. It started off as the Lido, and the swimming pool area remains in the basement of the premises.

"Some of the flats will be in the eaves space, and on the first and second floor, because the original style of the building has to be kept," said Mr Atkins.

But the dancefloor area at the rear of the building will be removed to make way for more of the development.

"The building will appeal to a developer to come in and offer apartments in the centre of Norwich," added Mr Atkins.

"The reason the building became redundant was through the advent of the Riverside.

"What has happened is that when Riverside opened, people started to go down there.

"But what it has left is a chance to re-generate an important building in an area of Norwich for residential use on a site that is right outside the main gate to Norwich Cathedral and one with good views of Norwich from the top floors."