AN ICONIC Westcliff pub is set to reopen after months of renovations as the new manager hopes to welcome regulars, families, and live musicians back within weeks.

The Cricketers pub in London Road was a popular venue until it closed its doors in June when the Corallini family stepped away after ten years.

Since then, it has undergone extensive refurbishment ahead of plans to welcome customers back “in time for Valentine’s Day”.

Echo: The pub has undergone a major internal refurbishment.The pub has undergone a major internal refurbishment. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Annie Bush, manager of the Gray and Sons pub, previously ran Annie’s Attic, a Southend city centre music venue. 

She brought her 42 years of hospitality experience to the Cricketers in November and has been helping to get the pub up and running.

As work nears completion, there are hopes the pub will open on February 8.

Annie said: “It’s been a busy few months.

“We hope to open in the first half of February, with a DJ on the opening night.”

Over the last seven months, the pub has been completely refurbished, with a full kitchen overhaul, new pumps installed, and repairs to the roof carried out.

Echo: There are plans to reopen the pub 'by mid-February'.There are plans to reopen the pub 'by mid-February'. (Image: Ben Shahrabi)

Annie added: “The brewery had an awful lot to do. They’ve gone above and beyond to help and have been ever so good.”

The manager hopes to revive the Cricketers as a hotspot for food and live music.

“I’m hoping we’ll get a lot of the old customers back,” Annie said.

The pub is set to get a new pool table and two dart boards, with the aim of eventually setting up pool and darts leagues.

Annie added: “I’m trying to bring back that old-fashioned family pub feel. We’ve already had bands contacting the brewery to perform here, and I’ve brought in two top chefs who are great.”

Chef Dan Binge said: “We’ll be offering pub classics in the daytime, like pies and fish and chips.

In the evenings, we’ll serve special menus for each night of the week.

“We’ll also offer catering for functions like birthdays, wedding receptions and wakes.”

Deputy manager Tracy Scanlan left Annie’s Attic to join her boss at the Cricketers.

She said: “This is a busy street, so I imagine we’ll have even more customers than we had down at Annie’s Attic.

“I’m excited about it. We’re very keen to make it a success.”