DEVASTATED residents have launched a petition pleading for the Shoebury Hotel to remain as a pub and restaurant after it shuts.

The Shoe Bar and Eatery, based inside the historic building, will close tomorrow and managers Andy Dosser and Michelle Marrs have admitted they are unsure what the future holds for the building once they leave.

Dating back to 1899, the building has a long history as a pub before becoming a bar and restaurant and now a petition has been launched by residents demanding assurances from the landlord it will “stay in use as a public house”.

She said: “We can’t afford to lose anymore businesses, this used to be a thriving high street and when I was counting, we have six shops, we had twenty and we need a pub as a hub for the community.

“It draws us together, a lot of people do go there and if I have friends down, we do go there.

“It has its regulars, so the closure is a real tragedy that people are really upset about.”

Back in 1899 it was built to replace an old tavern at the main gateway to the garrison, serving workers and soldiers from the barracks and playing a significant role in the community Ms Wilcox fears that “if it is left for two years, the owner can get change of use and it would be turned into flats”.

She added: “This is a warning, what we want to achieve is for it to remain as a public house and ward off any hope that it could have a change of use.

“I have no indication that this will happen, but we are just pre-empting it and if that does happen, it will be the death of the High Street, of what we have left.

“To lose a pub really takes the heart out of what has been a thriving little community, we have alerted councillors and told them we would be disappointed by any change of use application.”

Ms Wilcox has contacted Shoebury Residents Association and the Garrison Residents Association to pull in support across Shoebury.

To sign the petition: www.change.org/p/shoeburyness-hotel