HUGE pub chain JD Wetherspoon is not ruling out a second attempt to snap up Conwy’s Civic Hall which will go back up for sale this Summer.

Despite their bid to buy the historic building being turned down last year by Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) cabinet, the national pub chain told the Pioneer they were aware that the site was once again on the market and planned to discuss the Civic Hall, which homes a purpose built theatre, at a property meeting “in due course”.

The spokesperson added: “We would say that we were very keen to develop the council building in the past, but that didn’t come to fruition.”

The future of the build has remained up in the air for a number of years despite proposals from the chain as well as a range of groups, who have fought to keep it as a community space.

The theatre part of the venue closed in March 2014.

Last week, the Civic Hall Project Board recommended that the property should be re-marketed on the open market, this was supported by Conwy’s Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee, and was met with approval by Conwy’s Cabinet members.

Cabinet agreed that the Civic Hall should be put back on the open market, but without the section of the quay that was included in previous offers.

It will be marketed using updated planning guidance with a focus on residential or hotel development.

Cllr Louise Emery, Cabinet Member for Economic Development said: “We know that it will become vacant in October 2019 when the new Culture Centre is completed, and the cost to keep the empty building secure would be significant, so it’s important that we find a new use for the building as soon as possible.

“Capital receipts from the sale of the Civic Hall have been allocated to the new Culture Centre, which will house the area library, café, arts and heritage hub, and the county’s archive. The Culture Centre will be a hub for the local community, and the gateway to the story of Conwy for a wider audience.”