Replica of James Cook's ship Endeavour up for sale

A replica of the ship Endeavour that became a tourist attraction has been put on the market for £1.5m.

The vessel, which has been moored in Whitby Harbour since 2018, is one of only two full-size recreations of the ship that carried explorer Captain James Cook to Australia and New Zealand in the 1760s.

Although it cannot sail, it could be towed "anywhere in the world", according to estate agent Nationwide Business Sales.

They added that Endeavour was a "blank canvas" and could be used as anything from a houseboat to a nightclub.

Simon Burbridge, head of sales, said a "small private company" owned the replica but was looking to move away from the hospitality sector.

"I expect interest from quite a broad audience," he said.

"The hospitality business is successful, there is a museum, so it is a tourist attraction that can make money in its own right."

However, Mr Burbridge explained that prospective buyers could turn it into anything they wanted.

"There is opportunity for someone to make it into a fine dining restaurant or make it into a glorious houseboat," he said.

"They can put it anywhere in the world and on the route that Captain Cook took on the Endeavour.

"You have immediately got a ready-to-go tourist attraction business, holiday home, houseboat, nightclub, restaurant - whatever you want it to be."

In its current set-up, the replica has one large dining room on its lower deck with a commercial kitchen and bar.

The middle deck features a copy of the captain's table that the explorer, who began his life at sea as a merchant sailor in Whitby, would have used.

Sections around the ship's interior displayed historical information about its voyages and a "huge deck" has been used for seating.

"You can make it into as many different rooms as you want or leave it open plan," Mr Burbridge said.

Nationwide Business Sales has already received a "number of enquiries", despite Endeavour only being on the market for a few days.

"I do expect it to attract an awful lot of attention from near and far," Mr Burbridge said.

"It depends whether or not people want to keep it in Yorkshire or lose it."

The Endeavour arrived in Whitby from Middlesbrough in 2018 after former naval officer Andrew Fiddler bought it at auction.

At the time he claimed he had outbid the Royal Navy at the sale. As the vessel could not sail under its own power, it had to be craned over the lock gates at the Tees Barrage.

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