The Palace Hotel is up for sale again, it was revealed today.

The freehold of the landmark building on Pier Hill, Southend, has been advertised in the trade publication, the Estates Gazette.

It is being sold as a prime seafront hotel with 220 bedrooms, a 900 seat bingo hall, function rooms, a pub, numerous shops and a skating rink.

The advert stresses it is in need of refurbishment and has planning permission for 100 modern bedrooms and a casino.

Last year the then owners of the Palace, Stephen and Ivor Burstin, sold it to a Bristol-based property and investment company, West Metropolitan Estates.

The company put forward the plans for the bedrooms and the casino. Work on the refurbishment was due to begin last autumn and should have been completed by the summer, but was never started.

Graham Longley, leader of Southend Council, said: "I am disappointed the proposed development is not proceeding with the current owners and the current planning permission.

"However, the council would welcome a new owner who wanted to proceed and would assist an owner who wanted to develop the hotel."

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