Restaurant giant Cafe Uno is to begin work on Billericay's historic old town hall.
More than £800,000 will be spent on stripping the run-down building back to its core. Builders are expected to move onto the site in the next few weeks.
The former council offices have been empty for the last 20 years.
City Centre Restaurants, which run Cafe Uno, plan a ground floor restaurant and bar, first floor function room, restaurant area and staff accommodation.
News that building work is to start has been welcomed by Billericay MP Teresa Gorman . She said the old town hall had remained derelict for too long.
New life - Billericay's former town hall is in need of restoration
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