AN ICONIC Southend pub has been boarded up with bosses still unable to provide an update on its future, sparking sadness throughout the community.

The Railway Hotel - arguably one of Southend’s most famous pubs - closed under “the weight of unbearable pressures and almost un-tradeable circumstances” during the Covid pandemic.

After being closed and vacant for almost a year, the windows at the the pub were boarded up this week, with the owners confirming there is no re-opening plan in place.

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The Railway Hotel will go down in the town’s history as not only an elegant Victorian pub, but also home to rock music and the Southend arts scene.

A campaign is being considered to see the pub labelled an “asset of community value”, protecting it from being developed and securing its future.

Matt Dent, Labour councillor, said: “I think the nomination is an excellent idea honestly.

“I think the situation with the Railway underscores the fact that Southend really needs to be looking to protect the assets that our city has and love.

“We should be as a city and council looking to what we have to; to do this.

“The Railway is something that means a lot to many people in Southend, it is iconic, and it should be protected, so anything we can put in place to do that, then I am completely supporting it.”

Many famous faces have performed at this pub including Wilko Johnson as well as David Bowie, Geoff MacCormack, and Brendan O’Hare.

South Essex artists have also used the pub to perform for many years, including Digby Fairweather, a jazz musician from Southend who recently performed at Sir David Amess’ memorial concert.

Digby added he would help in any way he could, to get the iconic venue protected and re-opened.

He said: “The Railway Hotel was one of Southend’s most flourishing and interactive cultural centres for music-making.

“I played there in my early days and would sit-in on Sunday afternoon blues session later on too.

“It is a big loss to Southend City, and I always felt it was a shame no-one has been able to step in and help with financial support.

“I would certainly be in huge favour of trying to protect it and re-open the Railway as well as helping in anyway that I could.”

Tony Cox, leader of the Conservatives, added: “It is as iconic The Cavern Club is to Liverpool. There is a lack of venues for young budding artists, so it is a shame but hopefully it can be brought back into life.”

A Star Pubs and Bars spokesman said: “We are reviewing options and have no further information at this current time.”