PROPOSALS for the transformation of a Beccles town centre pub have been revealed.

The 16th century King’s Head Hotel has been bought by pub chain JD Wetherspoon after being put up for sale in December last year when the company which owned it went into administration.

Now the plans for the alterations to the pub, and the required listed building consent, have been drawn up. The scheme includes building a new brick, single-storey garden room at the back of the pub, leading onto a paved area with access to the garden.

The ground floor bar and restaurant area looks set to be reorganised, with a new kitchen on the New Market side of the building and one large granite-topped bar running along the far wall. The 12 bedrooms on the second floor and the first floor function room will be retained.

A report with the plans, which have been submitted to Waveney District Council, said: “Modifications and alterations have been reviewed to ensure that the maximum amount of important historic fabric is retained.”

The King’s Head closed in August this year for redevelopment after being bought by the JD Wetherspoon group, which has more than 780 pubs nationwide.

It is currently boarded up and the outdoor seating has been removed, although the new plans show outdoor seating in place in New Market.

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, which has 781 pubs nationwide, includ-ing the Troll Cart in Great Yarmouth and the Bell Hotel in Norwich, did not give a time frame for the proposed works, but said the company hoped work could start “in the near future” and that the new look pub would be “an asset to the town.”

A decision on the plans is expected to be made later in the year.