THE Sussex Cricketer is to be knocked down in the County Ground revamp.

The radical redesign of the cricket ground in Hove mean the Sussex Cricketer pub and other buildings facing on to Eaton Road will be demolished.

The popular pub called its last orders in January.

It had served sports fans – and others – heading into the Sussex County Cricket Ground for decades.

A picture from The Argus’s photo archive shows the pub in 1961.

However, the pub’s exterior has now been boarded up.

It will be knocked in “phase one” of the scheme, which includes replacing buildings on the south west corner to make way for 37 new flats.

The space will include 37 “quality apartments” and a new pub with a sun terrace in an eco-friendly landmark building which includes flexible commercial space.

There will also be a restaurant and parking.

As well as the new block of flats and pub, changes will be made to the cricket ground.

The old Tate Gates will be reinstalled at the ground’s entrance alongside a new clock tower.

The decision came a year after cricketer Phil Tufnell chose the pub as the winner of a nationwide “technical makeover” competition.

Pubs with cricket-related names were invited to enter, stating why they deserved to win.

Entries flooded in from across the UK but “Tuffers” picked out the Sussex Cricketer as the worthy winner.

It was given big new TV screens as part of the luxury makeover.