Basildon Wetherspoon's King of Essex opening 'delayed'

In the summer, bosses at Wetherspoon revealed its new King of Essex pub was aiming to be open by late November 2024, with works due to have begun in July.

However, with just days left of the month, it has now been confirmed there is no new timescale, with building works not underway yet.

A spokesman for Wetherspoon said: "Building work has not even started.

"There is no up to date timescale at present."

Wetherspoons’ former location in the town, the Moon on The Square closed in late 2022. 

The King of Essex pub is due to take over the former Poundworld in East Walk and is set to create 70 new jobs for the town.

Plans - A CGI of the new £3.6m pub (Image: JD Wetherspoon)

This is located in a key town centre site close to the £26.7 million cinema complex.

Initial plans would have seen the pub operate across three floors in the building, but the plans were scaled back to just two floors earlier this year.

The chain has already revealed images of the proposed interior of the new business.

Kerry Smith, Independent councillor responsible for the Nethermayne ward, said: "I think all pubs are suffering at the moment, you have seen a few Wetherspoons close their doors.

"I just think that people's taste have changed because of finances. People are sitting in doors instead, and drinking what they have brought from the supermarket.

"So, pubs are really struggling, which is why it may take longer to open.

Delayed - No timescale on The King of Essex opening in Basildon (Image: JD Wetherspoon)

"If it doesn’t happen, that wouldn't surprise me either.

"A lot of people have said to me that they miss a Wetherspoons in town, as it s was somewhere cheap to eat and drink.

"So, I really hope it does still open, but I wouldn't be surprised if Wetherspoons are getting cold feet with lots of pubs closing.

"Regrettably, times are changing."