The £2m restoration of a former Morecambe pub and nightclub is nearing its end and Beyond Radio has been to take a look inside.
Work on The Battery luxury apartments complex is expected to be completed by the summer, says owner and developer Ian Bond.
Ian bought The Battery in 2014, saving it from demolition, and started renovations in 2016.
The building dates back to the mid-1800s and was previously a pub and hotel, as well as home to popular '80s and '90s nightclub Harvey's and the Sandylands House office block.
The first apartments, available to rent from £850 per month, should be ready in a couple of months.
LISTEN to our interview with Ian Bond
"We've put a lot of love and care into putting it back to how it should be," said Ian, who also owns the nearby Alhambra and former Trinity Methodist Church.
"It's such a historic building and holds such a prominent position. It's so important to give it all that care and attention it hasn't had for such a long time.
"Somebody said it's a bookend to the Promenade, because it does have that position, looking right along the Promenade."
Ian said the six-year project has "thrown up a lot of challenges".
"I totally underestimated it," he said.
"We've spent a lot of money restoring stonework and brickwork, restoring it back to former glory. We've spent tens of thousands on the staircase.
"I've probably doubled my budget from when we started, in terms of cost and time, but it's worth it.
"It's over one and a half million now and by the time we've finished, it will be approaching two million by the time we've finished. So it's a lot of money, but it will be around for a long long time. We've used a lot of good quality people and products.
"It's been really really difficult. Lockdown was tough. You couldn't get building materials. Prices started going up. Projects were on hold. Now there's a massive shortage of materials. Some timber products have probably doubled in the past two years.
"The cost of living is tough for everybody. Utility costs are frightening, so we've tried to answer that with this project. We've super-insulated the building, made it super-efficient. We hope the overheads for being here will be fairly low."
Ian said there has already been interest in the apartments in the four-floor building, which he will be offering as a mixture of buy-to-let and holiday flats.
The Battery has also been used recently as a location for filming the ITV crime drama series The Bay.
Once the work is finished, Ian hopes to have a well-earned break and then start work on the derelict church (pictured below), which he hopes can become a pub-restaurant.
New drumming festival to be held in Morecambe
New four-day Lancaster Fringe Festival announced
Former Lancaster antiques centre revamp gets go-ahead
Controversial new housing plans near Lancaster given thumbs up
LISTEN: Plans revealed for 'permanent seasonal' Lancaster On Ice
Morecambe woman charged with murder following death of eight-week-old baby
Rescue after person stuck in mud in Lancaster
Hundreds expected at Eden Project Morecambe 'breaking ground ceremony'
Morecambe children's nursery announces plans to close during extreme heat
Lancaster MP responds to Sir Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister
Carnforth High School praised as a "caring community" in Ofsted report
Body of man found in Lancaster park
LISTEN and PHOTOS: Armed Forces weekend will return after massive crowds enjoy biggest ever event
Morecambe MP says Sir Keir Starmer "has made right decision" as Prime Minister resigns
Limited edition artwork will raise vital funds for Lancaster community group
Green Heritage Plaque marks first home of Lancaster University
New home revealed for £20m Morecambe West End regeneration scheme
Wooden nests take flight in Lancaster and Morecambe to stop decline of endangered birds
Veterans salute as Armed Forces Day flag raised at start of celebration weekend in Morecambe
Vandals cause delays to aqueduct sinkhole repairs in Lancaster
