A DERELICT pub has been transformed into a restaurant.

Italian restaurant Finezza has opened at the site of the former Robin Hood pub, in Osborne Street, Colchester.

The rundown pub has been given a £100,000 makeover by Harwich-based Flying Trade Group and Surya Foods.

Director Suki Dulai said: “It has been derelict for about three or four years, but we have refurbished it from the basement to the top – we have modernised the whole building.

“We wanted to do something different here and help towards the regeneration of Colchester.”

Mr Dulai said residents had expressed concerns, when a planning application was submitted, the restaurant would be a kebab shop and attract late-night trouble, but hoped they would be pleased the building had been refurbished as a family restaurant.

Flying Trade Group has worked on regeneration projects in Harwich and Clacton, including the £2.5million revamp of the landmark Kingscliff Hotel and Prestons Restaurant, in Holland-on-Sea.

Mr Dulai added the company would also be looking to regenerate run-down garages and buildings close to Castle Park.