Tuesday (July 29) morning will mark the opening of Kenilworth's new Wetherspoon pub and the end of three years of planning and construction at the town centre site.

The national pub chain first announced it would be coming to the town in July 2022, taking over the vacant Poundland unit at The Square.

Wetherspoon has put some £3.2 million into the new inn - having originally announced a £2 million investment.

After rounds of planning and licencing applications, work on site actually began in early 2025, with the former shop completely transformed into the new pub.

Named 'The Dictum of Kenilworth', the spot will be officially opened by Mayor of Kenilworth Cllr James Kennedy at 10am on Tuesday.

Having got onto the site last week, the front of house team has been busy getting the pub ready for opening over the past few days, spending today (July 28) completing its "live training".

Final touches were being completed to the décor, with the kitchen running through mock orders and a huge bar delivery also being unpacked on Monday.

The pub is set to be run by Tom Clarke, previously the pub manager at The Spon Gate in Coventry which closed a few weeks ago.

He said the past few days had been "stressful" getting the final preparations completed but said he is "very excited" for the opening.

Tom also said there has been a lot of interest from locals over the past few days, particularly with lots of people trying to take a sneak peak through the windows ahead of opening.

"Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Dictum of Kenilworth and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to Kenilworth's social scene," he said.

To the rear, the partly-covered beer garden to the rear will be open until 9pm and features sound proof fencing and glass to try and reduce the noise impact on neighbours.

The walls of the pub are decked out with historical photographs and images, referencing the history of the town and the 13th century treaty the pub is named after.

A mezzanine level has been created above the dining area, with the customer toilets and staff facilities. A sculpture will also be placed here.

Food will be served throughout the day, from opening until 11pm every day. 

As with other venues in the Wetherspoon stable, The Dictum of Kenilworth will stock a wide range of real ales, including those from local and regional breweries, as well as bottles and draught beers and ciders.

It will be open for family dining, with children, accompanied by an adult, welcome in the pub up until 9pm, throughout the week. 

The pub will be wheelchair accessible and have a specially adapted toilet for people with disabilities.

The chain previously said in a statement to Nub News: "Wetherspoon believes the pub will be a great asset to the town and be welcomed by people in Kenilworth."

What was the Dictum of Kenilworth?

Between June and December 1266 Kenilworth Castle was besieged by the royal forces under the control of Prince Edward (later Edward I) to wrestle it from the control of those rebelling against the English King, Henry III.

Civil war had persisted in England throughout the 1260's after the rebel Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, had raised an army against the king.

De Montfort was actually killed at the Battle of Evesham before the siege, but the rebellion raged on.

The dictum was delivered to the castle in October 1266, allowing the rebels to buy back the land that had been stripped from them, effectively pardoning them.

But they rejected it until finally giving out in the December when starvation and disease forced them to submit.

As per the dictum, they were allowed to leave with their horses and weaponry, and the castle was taken over by the royal forces.

Read more about the siege of Kenilworth here.