INTEREST has been flooding in from people looking to bring the iconic Railway Hotel pub back to life – but bosses say no deal has been reached to resurrect it.

The pub, in Clifftown Road, was arguably one of Southend’s best-known pubs but closed during the Covid pandemic due to the “almost un-tradable circumstances”.

Since closing in 2020, it has remained vacant, despite campaigns to have it registered as a community asset and protected.

Last year, it was revealed Star Pubs and Bars, which owns the pub, plans a “significant refurbishment”, including an all new bar and “instagrammable” features.

However, it is understood work has not yet begun as Star Pubs have yet to secure an operator for the location.

It is not know when, or even if, the pub will reopen.

A Star Pubs spokesman said: “The refurbishment of the Railway Tavern is subject to the recruitment of a new operator.

“The pub has received lots of interest, but nothing has been finalised yet.

“Our intention remains to commence work and reopen the pub as soon as possible.”

Musicians who called Southend’s Railway Hotel home for a decade have called for “something to be done” before the building is abandoned for good.

Trevor Taylor, who ran Jazz 825’s weekly jazz nights in the pub for a decade, has said that people want to go back but noted that the venue presents a unique challenge.

“People do want to go back to the Railway, but it is in desperate need of renovation. It had a really peculiar ambience that people liked about it,” he said.

“We ran Jazz 825 there for ten years. We dealt with some very nice people and the venue attracted a lot of very interesting people.

“The latest we heard, nothing has happened and when we go by, no one is there.

“It is easy for the brewery to say they can refurbish the pub but how would that work financially? I wouldn’t want to take it on – it would cost a massive amount.

“They must do something, though. t must be costing a lot of money to sit there, and I can’t blame them if it came to it becoming flats.”

Carol Taylor, Trevor’s wife, added: “It could be so great, but it just needs so much money.

“It was a fantastic place, and we just need the correct people to take care of it, it is a real shame.”

Former Canvey guitarist Wilko Johnson and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, David Bowie, had been known to attend the pub regularly.

In 2007, Southend musician Dave Dulake and his wife, Fiona Dulake, oversaw a £50,000 refurbishment and successfully run the pub for almost 13 years before it was put up for sale.

Estimated ingoing costs for the pub are £93,130 with annual rent of £54,522.

Anyone interested in finding out more should contact Star Pubs & Bars on 08085 94 95 96 or visit www.starpubs.co.uk.