A BINGO hall boss says he turned down an offer for his building from the pub chain, Wetherspoons, which wants to open on Canvey.

Mark Jepp, managing director of Majestic Bingo, which runs Rio Bingo, in Furtherwick Road, says the chain approached him after talks fell through with the owners of the King Canute pub earlier this year.

The Echo reported yesterday Wetherspoons had ruled out taking over the King Canute, in Canvey Road, but still wanted a pub on the island.

Speculation began mounting after the pub chain revealed it was in talks with the owner of an undisclosed Canvey site, with some islanders believing it was Rio Bingo.

Mr Jepp said he did consider the company’s offer, but it was simply not enough money to be worthwhile.

He said: “Wetherspoons did approach us. Like everything in life, it has a price, but we have decided we didn’t want to sell.

“We’re totally committed to the bingo club. We only took it over about a year and a half ago and we’ve got plans to refurbish it and turn it into an even bigger and better club.

“We believe in bingo – old and new, big and small. We think there is an opportunity in towns such as Canvey to be the number one choice.”

The 69-year-old bingo hall started life as an independent cinema and showed films for nearly 40 years before becoming a social club, then most recently, a venue for bingo.

Dave Blackwell, a borough and town councillor and leader of the Canvey Independent Party, says Wetherspoons maywell still make Mr Jepp a better offer He said: “I think if Wetherspoons are that desperate to come to Canvey it will reassess what it thinks it’s worth.

“It’s a popular bingo hall and a thriving business as well as a building, so I can understand why the owners want to keep hold of it.

“Apart from the King Canute, I can’t think of any other building on the island which would be suitable for Wetherspoons.”

The King Canute closed last summer after London-based developer Foundation Property and Capital bought it from the Stonegate Pub Company for £630,000.

Earlier this week islanders launched a campaign, calling on the pub chain to take in on. An online petition now has more than 400 signatures.