A LANDMARK PUB has undergone a £50,000 refurbishment to return it to its Victorian splendour.

The Railway Hotel, in Clifftown Road, Southend, has been restored to reveal the grandeur of original features such as parquet flooring, mosaic tiles and oak panelling.

The refit, was overseen by its manager, musician Dave Dulake, and has now been completed, creating a big space upstairs for "Live bands" and "Events" plus a smaller more intemate space to the side of it, and next coming soon a beer garden.

Mr Dulake said he wants the old pub to be a unique venue for live music of all kinds, as well as a space for artists and those who just want a good night out.

He said: "It is Bohemian, but well-run. It will be for Music lovers, resturant and also a family pub. We have an upright Bechstein grand piano and will host classical and jazz music nights.

"The pub has a retro feel and we are playing super 8 chromos films and DVD's, on film nights upstairs (see "Events" for details).

"It is also a theatrical venue and we are working closely on this with South East Essex College." (see "Events" for details).

He said: "I want to create something different. There is a whole host of pubs offering tribute bands, but we aim to be more on the arty side putting on both local and out of town new and estabished bands."

I know a lot of people in the music industry, but my band made the decision to stop trying to chase people in London.

"We have a lot of traditional gear, allowing bands to really create that old school sound."
(see "GIgs" for details).