The Ship pub closed its doors in 2017 and was left boarded up and derelict as subsequent attempts to re-open the building hit a series of roadblocks over the years. However, after plans were given the go-ahead last year, the pub has finally been transformed into a boutique hotel which bosses are confident will open in early July. These new CGI images offer a glimpse into how the new luxury hotel will look.
Excitement is building in the community as business owners, councillors and residents are looking forward to seeing the building back in use. Speaking to the Echo last week, Paul Barthaud, a director of the East Anglia Pub Company, said: “It’s been completely refurbished but as it’s such an appreciated historic building in Leigh, we’ve made sure to keep many of the original features – the outside should look very much as it did before. “Internally, we’ve done a lot to make sure it meets the requirements for a high-quality coastal hotel, including creating a 60-seater restaurant and bar area that will offer a lovely seasonal menu and will be available to hotel guests and outside customers.
” Other businesses owned by the East Anglia Pub Company include renowned Old Leigh restaurant The Peterboat and Westcliff’s The Trading Rooms pub. The transformation of The Ship Hotel was originally due to begin in 2020 but the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent planning and funding hurdles significantly delayed progress. Now, as scaffolding has gone up and wo.