A Southend pub is set to undergo a £120,000 refurbishment which will see it let out rooms via Airbnb.

The latest tenants at the Park Tavern, in London Road, say they want to shake off the pub’s shady past and resurrect it as a family friendly Inn with an international cuisine.

Sabine Mondin, 53, who previously ran a restaurant in Germany and her American partner, Rory O’Conner, 60, have 12 years in the restaurant business and hope to put their experience to good use by giving the pub an overhaul.

Ms Mondin said: “I have been the tenant of the Park Tavern since April of last year and major refurbishment is planned to turn our pub into a family friendly restaurant and pub.

“It always has been a pub with a somewhat bad reputation and we are about to change this around, including accommodation.”

She added: “We are in a great location for guest to reach the airport,train and bus station.

“We will be on Booking.com and Airbnb. We have a child safe play area attached to our beer garden that most people don’t know about and after the refurbishment we will offer international dining and live entertainment.”

Ms Mondin added: “We would like to let people in Southend know that there will be a great place for them and their families.

“After so many years, a step in the right direction is happening and we are very exited to be a part of the Southend dining and entertainment scene.”

Ms Mondin also said the pub had been neglected for some years, adding: “The refurbishment is way overdue. It’s a beautiful pub with lots of potential.

“It became run down under the previous owner and had a bad reputation but we hope to change that.

“We’ve done what we can in the last year but it needs a big refurbishment now and the brewery Trust Inns is backing us.”

The restaurant is set to have about 80 diners.

The current play area will be completely revamped and there will be new decking.

Visitors wishing to stay will be able to book rooms for about £35 a night or £60 for a couple.

The pub, on the corner with Park Street, will close its doors in late September for up to eight weeks during the refurbishment.