PLANS to modernise a 500-year-old village pub have been approved despite advice to refuse them.

The Ferry Boat Inn, in Ferry Road, North Fambridge, is set for a major makeover, with the conservatory of the building being demolished and replaced with a brand new bar area and restaurant.

The kitchen will be extended, and changes will be made to the car park and a new patio area will be fitted.

Members of Fambridge Yacht Haven Group, owners of the Ferry Boat, were over the moon with the decision to approve the plans, which took several years to bring together.

Danyal Adams, manager of the marina, said: “As many local residents and visitors are aware, the Ferry Boat Inn is an historic and unique venue with some attractive features dating back over 500 years.

“The intention is to optimise the layout and provide a better environment to operate sustainably and in line with current health and safety regulations.

“We have therefore come up with a proposal which aims to keep the soul of the Ferry Boat Inn very much intact, while adapting the internal layout to allow for a smooth food and beverage service.

“Once building work is completed later this year, we hope the newly refurbished Ferry Boat Inn will appeal to a new, wider audience which is critical to its long term sustainability.”

Despite planning officers recommending the plans for refusal, Mark Durham, councillor for Wickham Bishops and Woodham, said the committee voted unanimously in favour of the application. He said: “The existing conservatory was in pretty poor shape and in terms of listed buildings, where conservation officers are involved, they like an extension to be quite distinctive from the historic nature of a building.”

The pub was saved from closure last year when it was taken on by new managers.

Purleigh councillor John Archer added: “I used that pub for years and I feel it is a benefit to the whole village. It does need to modernise and anybody who is prepared to do that should be supported.”