Work begins on historic pub to 'preserve heritage'

The Lifeboat Inn as it looked before work started

Restoration work has begun to bring one of a town’s most historic pubs back to life.

Substantial investment is taking place at The Lifeboat Inn on Foxhall Road, which is one of the oldest buildings in Blackpool.

The building, which dates back to the mid-19th Century, is locally listed and sits in the heart of the resort’s tourism district.

Originally called the Wylies Hotel, the Lifeboat Inn is believed to have been used as a meeting place for the local men who manned the lifeboats in Blackpool.

Work under way at The Lifeboat Inn

A planning application submitted to the council by Star Pubs and Bars Ltd said the refurbishment would "enable the public house to be sympathetically repaired and maintained, thus contributing to the preservation and enhancement of the heritage asset".

However, urgent structural repair work must be undertaken to rebuild and stabilise the external wall, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

External work is set to include new rendering, repairs to damaged decorative surrounds and window trims and replacement of architectural details that cannot be saved due to reconstruction of the front two-storey building wall.

Ground floor timber sash windows will be refurbished along with pilasters, fluted corbels and plinths.

The planning application said the proposal "ensures the safety and survival of the building in its current form for future generations" and will provide "substantial benefits for the area, in terms of economic growth".

Repairs will preserve the historic features of the pub and "provide a much-needed refresh of the exterior of the premises to improve the current offer while meeting commercial expectations and present-day needs for the future of the business".

The application will now be considered by town hall planners.