A DERELICT bar on Canvey seafront is being transformed into a £500,000 fine dining restaurant and gastro pub.

Buddy’s Bar, in Eastern Esplanade, which closed about two years ago, is being renovated by entrepreneur Gareth Crouch.

Mr Crouch, 42, who lives on the island, is in the process of converting the downstairs building into a gastro pub, serving good quality food, alcohol, coffee and other hot drinks.

He also plans to hire a chef from a top London restaurant to run a restaurant upstairs. The venue should be open by the end of the year.

The project is the latest step in the transformation of Eastern Esplanade into an upmarket strip.

Last week, Barry White, a director of Canvey’s Oysterfleet Hotel, announced plans to open a plush wine bar in a new shop unit being built between Buddy’s Bar and the Monico pub.

Mr Crouch added: “The gastro pub will have a high quality menu and use all fresh ingredients.

“It is also designed to cater for mums who have dropped their children off at school and just want to enjoy a nice coffee on the seafront, as well to people who are making their way to the beach.

“It’s a great location and I think there are a lot of people on Canvey who would like to try a fine dining restaurant.”

The businessman first revealed plans to renovate Buddy’s Bar in December last year. and he has confirmed the work is progressing well.

He currently runs C & K Spas, in Charfleets Industrial Estate, Canvey, which includes a showroom, bar and private function venue.

However, it has been plagued with controversy after he secured a drinks and entertainment licence, but then did not apply for planning permission prior to opening the venue back in 2007.

Mr Crouch plans to close C & K Spas when the seafront pub and restaurant open.

Canvey councillor Liz Swann said: “If it is going to be a fine dining restaurant then it can only be seen as an asset to the seafront.”