WETHERSPOON has revealed the name of its new £3million pub opening in Basildon town centre "this year".

The new watering hole is replacing the old Poundworld in East Walk, as Wetherspoon's previous Basildon venue, the Moon on the Square, was shut down in September 2022 following plans for hundreds of new homes being approved.

Basildon Council gave the plans the green light to initial plans including a roof terrace in May last year, but no work had taken place on creating the promised new three-storey pub close to the East Square cinema development and scaled-back plans were approved in March.

Now, it looks like the plans are taking a leap forward as the temporary furniture store on the site has started a closing down sale and a licensing application has been put up in the windows - ahead of work beginning on the new pub.

All we know so far

The chain revealed the pub will be called King of Essex this week as a new licensing application was submitted ahead of work beginning on the site in the coming weeks.

Echo: How the new pub is expected to lookHow the new pub is expected to look (Image: Wetherspoon)

The new Wetherspoon is replacing the old Poundworld in East Walk and former councillor Craig Rimmer, who was involved in the initial planning process is confident work will start “as soon as possible”.

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

However, costs are still around £3.6million. A spokesman for the pub company told the Echo in March that they were aiming for work to start in the coming three to four months, and they appear to be on track.

Mr Rimmer said he hopes the plan will progress rapidly and the pub will open shortly after the new Vue cinema in East Walk.

Wetherspoon has applied for the sale of alcohol between 9am and midnight Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1am on Saturdays and Sundays.

The application also includes late night refreshments between 11pm and 12.30am Monday to Friday, and 11pm to 1.30am on Saturdays and Sundays.

Extensions to these hours are sought on certain "non-standard days".