A former medical centre in Great Yarmouth could become the regional headquarters of a ‘luxury’ tobacco and whisky seller.

An online company called C. Gars Ltd has lodged a bid to convert a building which was once part of the NHS’s Greyfriars Campus into a shop and office space.

The building, on Greyfriars Way, was originally home to The Ship Inn pub, but most recently formed part of the clinic before being sold off by the NHS.

However, having purchased the building, C. Gars Ltd has now applied to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to convert it into its new corporate headquarters.

The proposals will see offices based on the first floor of the listed building, with a shop selling Havana Cigars, specialist whisky and spirits and pipe tobacco on the ground floor.

The application’s design and access statement says: “The two rooms fronting the building will provide lounges for potential customers to experience the products on offer, as well as provide a space for product launches, specialist events and training.

“In this respect, these uses closely reflect the use of the building as it was as the Ship Inn.”

The company, which also has locations in Liverpool, Chester and London, currently has a Norfolk base in the village of Rollesby in a business park.

However, the application states it would prefer a town centre location and had purchased the building with the idea of moving its whole operation to the building.

The building has been vacant since January 1, 2017, when it stopped being used as part of the health centre.

The application sets out that the ground floor would include three rooms within it, each serving a specific purpose - a pipe room, a whisky room and a humidor room.

The proposals also set out plans to repair part of the building’s brickwork, which had been damaged due to wind exposure.

The company trades in Rollesby under the name of Turmeaus Cigars and Tobacco and is based at Hall Farm on Martham Road.

The application will be decided by Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s planning team in due course.