A quirky Devon Airbnb - with links to Francis Drake - inviting guests to stay the night in a pirate ship has been closed with “immediate effect” - with no explanation.
The sudden closure of the Airbnb ship in Devon's Brixham Harbour sees the loss of an accurate replica of the famous The Golden Hind, captained by Sir Francis Drake.
The owners of the tourist attraction took to social media on February 14 where they announced that they have closed their doors for good.
Owner Sean Twomey said: “Unfortunately the Golden Hind is now closed with immediate effect.
The Golden Hind, captained by Sir Francis Drake, replica has closed
|English Riviera BID
"This is not a decision we have taken, but have higher powers to answer to.
“We will be posting an update on Tuesday at 18:00 regarding the immediate future of the ship. It’s been an amazing eight years at the helm, more ups and downs than Thorpe Park."
The ship has been a feature of the Torbay harbour for more than 50 years, constructed between 1970 and 1973, welcoming hundreds of guests for one of a kind overnight stays.
It began welcoming visitors onboard to stay the night last year, run by the owners Mary and Sean Twomey, who bought the boat in 2018 after falling in love with it during a visit.
The vessel played a big role in Brixham’s annual Pirate Festival, a world-renowned event featuring entertainment, live music, and thousands of costumed pirates.
The Airbnb boat has two cabins, one with a double room with a king-size bed, and the other being a bunk-bed room.
For entertainment, the boat has a 60-inch smart TV and DVD player, with Wi-Fi throughout, and a big dining table with three pirate ‘mates’ ready to join whoever boards the boat.
There’s no kitchen, but plenty of room to bring back some fish and chips from the promenade, however the downside is that there’s no running water, which means no hot showers.
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The replica ship has resided at Brixham Harbour in Devon for decades
|Google Maps
The announcement of the closure prompted an outpouring of grief from locals on social media.
One commenter said: “This is really sad news. The Golden Hind is so iconic and a symbol of Brixham harbour, and given so much joy, fun and learning to so many people and families.
“I really hope that this can be somehow reversed.”
Another added: “Really sorry to hear this Sean. It’s the focal point of the harbour and has been a delight for many families and others. Hope something encouraging can be next for you.”
The decision to close the Golden Hind appears to be a sudden one, given as recently as February 5 its owners had been posting adverts on social media seeking part-time staff for the year ahead.