WETHERSPOON insists it remains committed to staying in Basildon as it prepares to close its pub in the heart of the town centre. 

Bosses are planning on shelling out £3 million on a new site opposite the new Empire cinema, which will include a roof garden and be based across two floors. 

Wetherspoon’s current pub, the Moon on the Square, will officially close its doors on September 25 amid plans to replace it with a new block of flats. 

A spokesman told the Echo: “I can confirm the pub’s final trading day is September 25.

“It will be closed from September 26.

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“There will be no staff redundancies as a result of the pub closing all staff will be relocated to other Wetherspoon pubs in the region.”

Following the announcement of the closure earlier this year, bosses announced plans are underway for a new Wetherspoon after the firm purchased a former pound shop in the town centre.

Official blueprints for the new pub have yet to be unveiled, and would need permission from Basildon Council before building work can begin. 

Bosses have remained coy on when an official application for the site will be submitted, with a spokesman adding: “The company is committed to opening its new pub in Basildon.

“We don’t have any dates yet for the new pubs.

“At present it still requires planning and licensing permission.”

Andrew Baggott, leader of Basildon Council, remains hopeful Wetherspoon will remain part of the town centre, amid ongoing regeneration work that is seeing new restaurants added alongside the new cinema.

Mr Baggot said: “We obviously would like them to remain committed as it sends a clear message.

“But we are aware as well as the pressures from the Covid pandemic, a lot of firms are now under a lot of pressure from utility bills, where the government haven’t got a cap, so they are very vulnerable.

“What we hope is they will see this administration itself is committed to Basildon centre being successful and we hope they will join us in that particular crusade.

“It would be something that would obviously be beneficial to Basildon.”