A FORMER pub in Colchester has been given a fresh lease of life.

The Cambridge Arms, in Military Road, closed down last summer and has been renovated by Ponder Construction.

The company has converted the flat upstairs into five bedsits and will “wait and see” what to do about the downstairs bar area.

Nigel Ponder, director of the West Bergholt-based builders, said: “We bought the pub just after it closed down because we saw there was the potential to do something with the building.

“We’ve tidied up outside and renovated the inside, which will all be finished within the next few weeks, so we’re ready to rent the bedsits out.

“We’re going to wait and see what to do with the downstairs.

“We might rent it as a shop or office space or, if the bedsits prove popular, apply for change of use to convert downstairs to residential as well.

“But the chances of it ever being a pub again are non-existent.

“It was very run down and it’s nice to think we’ve given a tired old building a new life.”

Theresa Higgins, borough ward councillor, welcomed the work, adding: “Anything to put a derelict building back into use is good news.

“Once work starts on building houses on the former garrison site on the other side of the road, it will enhance the area even more.”

John Parker, secretary of the Colchester Licensed Victuallers Association, said the Cambridge Arms would not be the last pub to be redeveloped.

He said: “Pubs are struggling to make a living at the moment and the easy way out is to close and convert the building into something else.

“The VAT rise will not make the trade any easier.

“While the Cambridge Arms is not the worst pub to lose, it is the small neighbourhood pubs like it that are suffering the most, not the town centre bars.”