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JD Wetherspoon are pressing ahead with plans for their second pub complex in Stirling.

The company this week confirmed a £1.9m proposal for a pub and hotel in property they own at 43-51 King Street.

Applications for drinks licences have been lodged for the new development which is expected to create up to 45 jobs .

The pubs giant have planning permission for the development and say they are keen to build on the success of their Crossed Peels pub.

It’s situated in the former tax office about 100 yards from the King Street site and opened in July last year at a cost of £1.7m.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are aiming to develop a pub and hotel at the King Street site, which we believe will be welcomed.

“We have planning permission but still need to obtain a licence.

“We are confident that the pub and hotel will be a success and also encourage other businesses to invest in the area.”

Wetherspoon’s lodged applications for on- and off-sales licences for the King Street development on February 23 and any objections have to be lodged no later than March 6.

Notices outlining their plans have been posted at the four-storey site – a category B Listed building – formerly occupied by outdoor clothing shop Summit, Aura restaurant and a third retail unit.

It is planned to have a pub on the ground floor with toilets and staff rooms on first floor and hotel accommodation on second and third floor.

Wetherspoon’s expect to use the complex to host conferences and functions such as weddings and birthday and they plan to sell bar meals.

They plan to open between 11am and midnight Monday to Thursday and Sunday and 11am to 1am Friday and Saturday.

Mr Gershon said they had still to decide whether the new venue, should it

get the final go ahead, would be a Wetherspoon’s or one of the company’s Lloyds operation, that are

geared towards a younger market.

No timescale has been set for the start of development work or opening.

The planning application for the change of use of shops and offices at 43-51 King Street to a hotel/pub was approved in August, 2013, despite reservations about the loss of retail units expressed by Mercat Cross and City Centre Community Council.

However, in granting the application Stirling Council said at the time: “The premises on all floors are vacant and have been marketed with no take up for over 18 months.

“The re-use of the site for employment purposes may facilitate the top part of King Street being revitalised. Despite the loss of retail units, the application overall accords with Local Plan policies for employment, tourist accommodation and town centre enhancement and as such the application warrants support.”

Wetherspoons bid to develop the former tax offices faced challenges. Stirling Licensing Board initially approved plans for the pub in September, 2012, but were ordered to reconsider the decision after brewers and pub owners Greene King sought a judicial review on a point of law.

Greene King already own seven Belhaven pubs in Stirling and the Belhaven Brewery.

Their objection brought an angry response from Wetherspoons, who accused them of trying to monopolise the city centre.

Stirling Licensing Board later reviewed the application and gave it the green light in mid-2013.