A town centre pub could be turned into a late-night wine bar and restaurant.

A license for alcohol and entertainment has been submitted to North Herts District Council for The Kings Arms in Hitchin, which shut in June.

Hitchin-based company Armas De Los Reyes Ltd has put forward an application so recorded music can be played seven days a week – from 10am until 1am from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

If approved, the Grade II-listed pub situated in Bucklersbury could also serve food and drink.

Hitchin town centre manager Keith Hoskins said: “The owner is coming back into the town and the pub is set to undergo some refurbishment work to eventually make it into a wine bar and a place to eat. It is great news for the town and for the pub, which was in dire need of a bit of TLC.”

Lee Taggart is the landlord for The George, also in Bucklersbury, and wants to see the building reopen but remain as a traditional pub.

The 28-year-old said: “As long as the pub is ran properly I am happy to see it reopen, it’s always good to have a busy night economy and it’s good for the town.”

Becky Southam, 22, a barmaid at The Red Hart, said: “I would love to see the pub reopen again, it’s a great pub. And I’d want it to stay as it is. It was a very popular pub when it was open and I’d like to see it like that.”

In August last year the pub was put on the market for a guide price of £650,000, and there were fears it was going to be purchased and converted into a shop or chain restaurant.

The following month the pub was taken off the market and still remains under the same ownership.