A boat which was previously a Chinese restaurant is set to be sold and moved from its current home.

The barge, which currently sits in Brighton Marina and was previously a restaurant called The Pagoda, will be moved as part of renovation works to the marina.

The boat, a marina landmark, has now been listed for sale ahead of its eventual departure.

Tim Kingston, a broker with Boatshed Brighton Yacht Brokers, said: “I think there will be a certain amount of sadness from the long-term marina people.

"She’s like seeing an old friend and she will leave a big gap.

“I think it has been important to the community. I think there will be a lot of people watching when she is moved.”

The barge, originally named the Selby Virgo, was first used to transport grain in the North of England before being re-homed and re-purposed in Brighton Marina.

The boat was originally converted into a Chinese restaurant in 1995 and had become a well-known staple of the marina over a number of years. The barge closed its doors as a restaurant shortly before it was sold in 2016.

It has since been used as a community space since 2017 and has been the host to a not-for-profit community and youth hub.

Activities at the barge, which is now run by charity ONCA, include community arts and crafts afternoons.

The boat also includes a space to house artists for exhibitions.

Currently listed on Rightmove, the barge will set back prospective owners around £75,000.

The barge is over 100 years old, but Mr Kingston described the barge as “in reasonable shape for its age”.

He added that the challenge with selling the boat will be the movement of the vessel which would also need to be done as part of the sale.

Mr Kingston added that he thought the boat could be moved to Shoreham or perhaps to the river Thames.

Brighton Marina declined to comment on the sale and moving of the boat.