A Wetherspoons pub housed in a historic building dating back to the Georgian times has been lined up for a major £1.2million revamp.

Plans to completely refurbish The Muggleton Inn, in Maidstone High Street, have been submitted to the council.

If approved, the popular pub will be closed while work is completed to update the dated decor and give it a “new lease of life”.

It is one of two Wetherspoons in the town, alongside the Society Rooms at the top of Week Street, near the railway station.

Planning documents sent to the local authority outline aspirations for a full internal decoration and a change of the seating layout.

The development would see new roofs, carpet, heating and cooling, and an improved beer garden installed.

If given the green light it would be the biggest refurbishment since the pub opened.

The Grade-II listed building was originally built in 1827 as the new offices of the Kent Fire Insurance Company, before later being converted to the Muggleton Inn 168 years later in 1995.

It takes its name from Medway’s Charles Dickens who affectionately dubbed the county town “Muggleton” in his famous novel, The Pickwick Papers, published in the 1830s.

The public house was taken over by national chain JD Wetherspoon in 2014 which carried out a two-week refit costing £445,000.

A design and access statement sent to Maidstone council detailing the latest overhaul, said: “The works will enhance the premises and increase the buildings potential and attract trades and visitors.

“The proposal designed sympathetically to the listed building and will not have any loss or negative impact to historic fabric.

“All design features have been considered to bring and highlight the original heritage of the building.”

Developers believe the refurbishment would create an enhanced and revived customer and staff area, and the upgraded beer garden will attract more visitors and increase trade.

You can view the plans here, with reference 23/503284/FULL.

Concluding its reasons for the proposal, they said: “The proposed design has no effect on the building setting or nearby listed buildings and does not involve any extension works to the building.

“The works are necessary to give the building a new lease of life and carry essential repairs and revive the existing customer and staff area plus providing better operational solution.”

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “ The Muggleton Inn is an extremely popular pub.

“We are always keen to offer our customers the best pub possible to socialise in and our staff the best pub to work in.

“We believe the project will make the pub even better.

“If planning is approved the pub will shut for a period of time while the work is carried out.

“The proposed investment highlights our commitment to the pub and to Maidstone itself.”