Swan pub Braintree: Investor has no plans to sell site

Entrepreneur Barrie Drewitt-Barlow is the owner of the grade II listed former Swan pub, in Bank Street, which is set to become a new "high class dining experience, Ocean’s Braintree.

The America-based entrepreneur took on the project alongside friend Ocean Chapman, of Braintree, who is spearheading as executive chef and business partner.

The pair originally struck up a friendship after they appeared on Channel 5’s Rich House, Poor House.

Dressed up - Barrie and Ocean pictured in the middle next to Barrie's partner Scott, and Ocean's friend Chloe (Image: Dave Mansell)Ocean’s Braintree has been primed to offer a high-class dining experience that will offer Japanese and Caribbean-inspired dishes.

It was planned from the start that Mr Drewitt-Barlow would invest a figure between £1.5 million to £2 million into the historic building.

In October, he spoke about how the site has a complex amount of repairs needed and that the local authority is not being helpful, and that the site may stay closed for years.

Mr Drewitt-Barlow has confirmed that even with the problems the building has, he doesn’t plan to sell it and wants to get things moving.

Renovation work - a recent photo of the ground floor area (Image: Barrie Drewitt-Barlow) He said: “I have no intention of just selling the building, it will remain empty and decaying until the planners work with us to get it put right.

“I am currently talking to a top team of London lawyers with specialist legal experience in this field to see if there is a way to get this moving.

“If means going to court, then that is what I will need to do.

Food lovers - Barrie Drewitt-Barlow and Ocean chapman with executive consultant chef to Ocean’s Braintree, David Woodford, former Master Chef Asia runner-up (Image: Barrie Drewitt-Barlow) “I have already personally told the planners and heritage that money is no object.

“We are not on a budget and that includes fighting to get things done if I need to.”

According to the entrepreneur, the building has holes in its roof “from years of neglect” and the seemingly endless list of problems has affected morale.

He said: “I spoke to Ocean, and she is very discouraged by the whole thing.

“This woman is trying all she can to make this place work and to help bring this venue to her hometown.

“She wants to see this happen in Braintree and is committed to making it work.

“I have told her that I will back her with whatever she needs.

“She told me that she really wants this site to work for the first Ocean’s Braintree and wants to do it here because it all started here.”