AN adored mural on the side of a boarded-up pub in Rochford is being demolished as part of plans to create new flats, leaving artists and residents devastated. 

Dan Kitchener designed the artwork, depicting Ashingdon Road, following the closure of the Grey Goose pub in East Street, Rochford, back in 2018. 

It is adored by residents who have taken to Facebook this week to express their devastation after demolition work started on the pub and attached mural. Demolished - Dan with his destroyed mural Demolished - Dan with his destroyed mural (Image: Dan Kitchener)

Plans were given the green light back in 2022 for the pub to be replaced with a new two-bedroom flat. 

Undeterred, Dan has promised residents he will now recreate the art elsewhere in the area if he gets the chance and thanked them for their kind words of support. 

Dan, 49, said: “I came around the corner and saw half of the wall was gone, my girlfriend took a photo and I was told by other people it has been flattened.

“I am quite sad about it, it was a good piece of work for me and creatively it was a good mural, it is obviously sad to see it gone and it is sad that people are going to miss it.

Grey Goose - The pub when it was open Grey Goose - The pub when it was open (Image: Newsquest)

“It is also really touching and humbling to see that so many people engaged with it, people have sent pictures of their kids with it, or themselves in front of it.

“I am sad but I am flattered that so many people loved it.”

Original - The Grey Goose mural Original - The Grey Goose mural (Image: Dan Kitchener)

As things stand, half of the wall has been demolished and the other half is set to go. 

The Grey Goose closed on New Years Day in 2018 with the owners pointing the finger at rising prices and a lack of customers. 

Dan added: “I’d absolutely want to return to Rochford. There are a few walls around I have noticed, like Gable End and if I got the opportunity I’d like to brighten the area.”