IT is a beautiful Grade II listed three-storey Georgian house located in the heart of Wisbech town centre but a year and a half after it was put on the market a buyer has yet to be found.

%image(15907236, type="article-full", alt="The inside of "Ernie's Place" at 17 Hill Street, Wisbech")

The 18th century building at 17 Hill Street, Wisbech, was the home of “Ernie’s Place”, a popular Chinese restaurant which closed down 18 months ago when its owner Ernie Cheung retired.

%image(15907237, type="article-full", alt="The inside of "Ernie's Place" at 17 Hill Street, Wisbech")

Mr Cheung, 66, and his wife still live in the vast eight bedroom building which has been their home for 22 years but are looking for somewhere smaller.

%image(15907238, type="article-full", alt="The inside of "Ernie's Place" at 17 Hill Street, Wisbech")

He said: “I’ve got three children who have all moved out and now it is just my wife and I so it’s about time we sold it.

“We have had a lot of support since we have been here. We saw the people who came here as friends rather than customers.

“Once we sell the house we will swap to a smaller home, maybe in Wisbech. I’ll talk to my wife and see what she wants to do.”

The house, which has an asking price of £600,000, has retained many original features inside including ornate ceilings, sash windows with casement shutters and carved panelled doors.

Alex Doggett, an estate agent at Aboda homes, is helping Mr Cheung find a buyer.

He has raised awareness of the home on social media and contacted major pub and restaurant companies to gauge their interest.

He said: “Other agents have invited developers along to view the house who would like to turn it into flats or offices but I personally feel, and so do a lot of other people, that it would be a shame for Wisbech town centre to lose a popular destination which evokes a lot of happy memories.

“Therefore I’m trying to raise awareness that the building is available to be purchased and I hope it could be run as a restaurant or bar.”