The Inkerman pub in Ipswich hopes to reopen by Christmas

The Inkerman, located at the mini roundabouts in Norwich Road, will hopefully be open by Christmas, according to new owner Simon Musk.

The pub was put up for sale more than a year ago by previous owner Admiral Taverns, which was selling the venue with vacant possession after the previous tenants decided to leave the trade.

Mr Musk, director of London-based Musk Pubs and Bars, is from Diss in Norfolk, and has experience in taking over disused pubs for their reopening.

The Inkerman in Ipswich, pictured in 2011 (Image: Su Anderson)

His plans for The Inkerman include a major refurbishment of both the inside and outside of the venue, as well as turning the rooms upstairs into overnight accommodation.

The pub would "potentially" be renamed, but would still be a drinking community pub, showing Sky Sports with darts, a pool table, live entertainment and possibly an outdoor takeaway service.

Mr Musk said: “The plan is to do the refurbishment in two stages. Stage one would just be the pub area, which we hope open before Christmas.

Simon Musk (Image: Newsquest)

“Stage two would be ripping out the flat upstairs, but if we do not manage to open the pub by the end of the year and hit the Christmas trade, we will probably do everything in one go.

“We would like to do a kind of bed and breakfast service upstairs, without the breakfast. We have had other pubs where you can pay £50 a night or so to stay there. We have found it works with workers who need somewhere to stay in the area.

“We would also like to do something with the two barns in the back. We are thinking perhaps a takeaway service, but it is still quite an open playing field now as to what everything will be."

The empty pub features an open plan bar, carvery unit, patio courtyard, and barn unit which has been used for events, as well as four-bedroom accommodation.