Interpub to convert warship in £10m plan
by Ewan Turney
The Royal Navy's longest serving warship is set to become one of the biggest licensed hospitality retail spaces in the country.
Interpub, owner of Belushi's and St Christopher pubs and hostels, is to invest more than £10m in converting HMS Fearless into a pub, nightclub, conference suite, hostel and museum, provided it can find a secure berth for docking. The preferred location is London.
Interpub managing director Keith Knowles said that London's successful Olympic bid was one of the chief motivating factors behind the move but also stressed the importance of maintaining the ship's history.
'This is the biggest thing the company has ever done, he said. 'Can you imagine the possibilities? You could have a wedding going on, 1,000 people in a conference, an open-air concert on deck and 700 young people staying on the ship learning about our history all at the same time.
Knowles' plans for the 520ft by 80ft ship include restoring the chapel for weddings and christenings, using the mess deck as a catering facility, converting the tank deck into a gym, pool and squash courts, conference rooms on the dock, cheap bedding for 650 to 700 backpackers as well as bridal suites and nightclubs.
The two pubs already on board will be given to the ship's veterans to provide them with a permanent identity on the ship. The operations room would also be restored as a Falklands war museum and memorial.
More then 750,000 sailors have served on the ship since it was built in 1963. 'We want the veterans to get involved and we want to give them their own permanence on the ship, said Knowles.
Save the Fearless campaign organiser Colin Waite, who served on the ship during the Falklands conflict, said he had held discussions with Interpub over its bid.
'I am in full support because it is one of the only options open to save the ship and see it being used, he said. 'The problem is it is a very emotive subject as we lost six people in the Falklands. We need to get the message out that it is not going to just be a backpackers' hostel.
