Wetherspoon has dismissed rumours it is no longer interested in opening a pub in Kenilworth's town centre.

Having first revealed plans to turn the former Poundland unit at the Square into a new pub in July 2022, work on site is still yet to start.

After a licence application was granted in November 2022, a second planning application was eventually approved in March 2023, following an initial redesign of the venue.

Since then, the town centre unit has remained vacant, with no visible changes yet to be made.

Wetherspoon has submitted an application to Warwick District Council (WDC) to amend the previous licence agreement - but this is still yet to be signed off.

Rumours have continued to circulate on social media that the pub giant is pulling out of the plans, and the building is about to go back on the market.

However, Wetherspoon confirmed to Nub News it is still planning to open a new pub in the town.

An opening date is still yet to be confirmed.

The most recent licence application, which was submitted on September 4 2023, says the kitchen, bar and glasswash on the ground floor need to be moved, while the upstairs toilets, seating and staff areas are also hoped to be reconfigured.

An artist's impression of the new pub (image via planning application)

"The application seeks to amend the plans attached to the premises licence," the plans said.

"The variation is to have effect upon completion of the works.

"There are no other changes to the premises licence."

If approved, the amended licence would still allow Wetherspoon to serve alcohol from 8am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday and from 8am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Late openings would also be allowed on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and Sundays before a bank holiday.

When the sale of the building to Wetherspoon was agreed, over 18 months ago, property agent Bill Wareing, of Wareing & Company said: "It's great to see a major national name like Wetherspoon investing in the heart of Kenilworth by purchasing this building. 

"It's a great location in the heart of the town with public car parks close by.

"Kenilworth still achieves a good level of town centre footfall compared to towns of similar sizes and this has proved attractive to Wetherspoons. 

"This deal shows confidence in the high street post-Covid, and we are looking forward to seeing this enterprise open and attract more people to Kenilworth town centre."

See the full application here.