A 100-YEAR-OLD seafront pub will close its doors for the last time on Saturday after the crumbling cliffs damaged the building beyond repair.

The Esplanade pub in Western Esplanade was due to make way for a £12.5million flats development. But work on the five-storey block of 23 plush flats, restaurant and underground car park has been delayed for final details to be approved by Southend Council. The pub could have carried on until these were sorted out, but the building has become too dangerous. It’s believed the damage is being caused by pressure from the unstable cliffs.

Cracks have appeared in kitchen walls and pipes have fractured, prompting developers, Redab to declare the building a health and safety risk.

Spokesman Colin Felton said: “If we were not now in danger of impinging on health and safety rules and hygiene rules then the pub could have remained open until our work started.We have done repairs to the walls and pipes as they have appeared but it is no longer viable to keep on repairing something which is ultimately going to be demolished.

“Consequently, the landlords have called it a day. If anyone doubts whether the cliffs are slipping they just need to come and look at the dangerous state of the Esplanade.”

Redab is paying £1.25million to shore up cliffs belonging to Southend Council and hoped to start work during the winter months, but must await final approval from the council.

A council spokesman said: “The development cannot start until further details on the materials, car park shutter, and renewables have been agreed. In addition to this, a noise assessment, a method statement relating to stabilisation of the land, tree protection methods, and a scheme for a programme of archaeological works all have to be submitted to and agreed by the council. None of these details have so far been received.”