A petition to stop Kingston’s historic Market House from becoming a posh pizza chain restaurant has got more than 2,000 signatures.

The Stable Bar, an upmarket pizza, pie and cider brand from Dorset, has put in an application to turn the 1838 Market Place landmark into its latest restaurant.

The independent traders who currently occupy the building have started the petition in the hopes that they can stay put.

Several independent craft shops and a tea rooms trade out of Market House.

Eva Veliotou, one of the Market House traders, set up the petition last week writing: “Kingston Market House should be free to the public to appreciate rather than having to ‘buy into’ an external chain to view.

Surrey Comet:

Traders: Lavender Lucy, Eva Veliotou, Nicky French and Sarah Farncombe inside Market House

“[It is] a unique visitor attraction for a Royal Borough that adds character, an identity and a reason to visit from surrounding areas that already have chain restaurant and shops.

“There is nowhere like 'Kingston's creative heart' that provides local and aspiring creative businesses with a platform to sell.”

Speaking at a growth committee last month Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis acknowledged that the Market House was  important to the community but said it had “struggled”  as a tourist attraction.

He said: “This has really attracted people. I have more emails in my inbox about this than any other planning issue.

“I actually remember when this building was a pet shop. It has a very patchy history.

"It never worked as a tourist information centre.

“Kingston First failed to find a use for it. It is a building that has struggled.”

A report by Kingston Council noted that between £30,000 and £45,000 a year is collected in rent from the traders but estimated that more than three times that could be made by moving in an established retailer.

A brochure distributed last summer showed the authority was hoping for some £150,000 a year in rent.

The petition can be viewed here.