Exact replica of Captain Cooks HMS Endeavour could be yours for £1.5million - and it could be turned into a nightclub, casino or even a chippy
A life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour that Captain Cook sailed on is up for sale - with suggestions buyers could turn it into a nightclub, Indian restaurant, or even a chippy.
A life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour that Captain Cook sailed on is up for sale - with suggestions buyers could turn it into a nightclub, Indian restaurant, or even a chippy.
The Endeavour is currently moored in Whitby harbour where it has been since 2018, near where Captain Cook was born and where he and his crew set off from in the original vessel in 1768.
However, another key attraction for potential owners is that the 18th-century ship can be relocated anywhere in the world and repurposed to become anything from a lavish houseboat to a nightclub or wedding venue.
It has been fully refurbished and its listing on Rightmove shows it has had offers of more than £1.5million.
The vessel has a fully equipped kitchen, three decks with a capacity for 250 people and a licence to sell alcohol, making it perfect for hospitality developments.
The life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour that Captain Cook at Whitby harbour
Inside one of the rooms in the replica of HMS Endeavour, the ship famously used by Cpt Cook
Part of the vessel are mocked up to show how it was in Cooks time, when he sailed to Australia
The top deck is dedicated to seating with the main deck acting as a visitor attraction complete with a bar while the lower deck has a dedicated hospitality area, a commercial kitchen, another bar and further seating for 100 people.
Nationwide Business Sales also state on their listing that sales in the peak season can reach £10,000 per day when the ship has been used for hospitality.
Simon Burbidge, head of sales and marketing at estate agent Nationwide Business Sales, said the boat is well-known around Whitby and would bring attention and history to any area it was moved to.
Simon said: Its currently used as a tourist attraction so theres parts of it where you can see how life was on the ship.
The main room that was used by Captain Cook when they were plotting the maps out and stuff, theyve got a replica table in there so its all quite accurate.
He discovered parts of the world we knew nothing about, it was almost as important in that period as the internet is to us now.
If its a lovely sunny day they can sit on the deck and it makes you think this is what it would be like sitting on the harbour on a beautiful sailboat.
Its got a bar, its got a cellar. Plenty of seating inside and outside so it could be used as a wedding venue, it could be used as a function venue, it could be used as an Indian restaurant, it could be used as a fish and chip shop.
It can be used as anything. At the moment it makes most of its money over the summer because of where its currently sited. Its one of the most striking visual things people see on the way into Whitby.
So if you put that anywhere in the UK, it becomes the focal point of peoples attention upon the arrival to somewhere where there is water because you dont see boats like that.
One of the sitting areas on board the replica of the ship that Captain Cook sailed on
Another sitting area aboard the life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour. Estate agent Simon Burbidge said: It could be used as a wedding venue, it could be used as a function venue, it could be used as an Indian restaurant, it could be used as a fish and chip shop
One of the bars on board the life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour. Cooks men had to do without such luxuries
Another section of sitting area aboard the life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour, which is for sale
Inside one of the rooms onboard the ship
The top deck on the life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour
Aerial image of the ship at Whitby harbour
One of the bars onboard the life-sized replica of HMS Endeavour, which took Cook to Australia and New Zealand in the 1760s
Once Captain James Cook left Whitby port on The Endeavour, it carried him to South America, Australia and New Zealand in the 1760s.
The replica ship cannot sail by itself and therefore has to be towed to anywhere around the world, however Mr Burbidge said this hasnt sunken the interest out of buyers and enquiries have come from as far as Oslo.
He said: It literally could go anywhere. Somebody could well buy it and lease it each year to different ports.
It has to be towed, it doesnt have proportion or working sails and because its made of metal it weighs 400 tonnes. It can be towed anywhere.
Someone could put a motor on if they wanted to and they could put decorative sails on so that it looks even more authentic.
Someone might turn around and go actually do you know what I just want the biggest and most unique houseboat to be in one of the residential moorings that are scattered around the UK.
Its rich with history which is really unique.
Aerial image of the ship at Whitby harbour - the new owner will be free to tow it away
The vessel was been spotted by many on social media with house hunters posting the listing to social media, fascinated by the fact the property can be moved.
One user said: Not often that can be moved is in the synopsis of the property.
Another user said: I cant even explain how much it hurts that I love this place! If I had a ton of money to frit away, Id buy this ship in an instant.
Another said: Oh its lovely but needs a bit of a tidy for it to be useful.. Would make a nice floating hotel.
HISTORY OF COOKS ENDEAVOUR
The HMS Endeavour was a British research vessel sailed by Captain James Cook.
Captain Cook set off from England in the Endeavour in 1768 in search of Australia – then known as the unknown Southern Land.
The Endeavour was a small ship - less than 100ft long - and housed a crew of around 100 sailors.
Before coming to Australia, Captain Cook reached New Zealand in 1769.
He circumnavigated New Zealands North and South Islands and drew the first complete chart of the countrys coast.
The Endeavour was the first ship to reach the East Coast of Australia, landing in Botany Bay in 1770.
The vessel returned to England in 1771 and was largely forgotten before it was sold in 1775 and renamed The Lord Sandwich.
It was decommissioned shortly after its return to Britain and was then sold by the Royal Navy.
She was called into action when Britain hired her as a transport vessel for troops to help fight the American War of Independence.
The last sighting of the HMS Endeavour was around 1778 and it was scuttled — or deliberately sunk — in the harbour off the coast of Rhode Island.
The Endeavour was a small ship - less than 100ft long - and housed a crew of around 100 sailors (pictured). It was used to transport British soldiers during the American War of Independence and was deliberately sunk in 1778
