Wetherspoon officially opened a new beer garden in its Kingston pub today (Tuesday, 17 March).

The pub chain has spent £500,000 creating a new 1,500 square foot beer garden at the Kings Tun on Clarence Street.

The new beer garden, which is located on Nipper Alley at the rear of the pub, boasts a spacious seating area with new tables and chairs and some sheltered seating.

Visitors to the pub this morning were eager to enjoy the new garden but questioned whether it could be used as a smoking area given that no ash trays have been provided.

Pub manager Danielle Stephen said: " The Kings Tun is an extremely popular pub in the town.

"We aim to offer our customers the best possible pub and believe the addition of a beer garden will be welcomed."

Wetherspoon Plc also recently submitted a licencing application to the council, seeking permission to to operate from 7am – 1.30am Sunday to Thursday and from 7am – 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The pub currently operates from 8am – 12am Sunday to Tuesday, 8am – 1am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 8am -1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

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As per keeping in line with the council's four licencing objectives, Wetherspoon Plc said: "There will be no changes to the operating style of procedures of the premises as a consequence of the variation sought and therefore existing management practices will continue to operate to promote licensing objectives."

Residents have until tomorrow (Wednesday, 18 March) to submit representations for this application and can do so here.