First impressions of what the future of a derelict Worcester Park pub could be have been revealed at a planning consultation this week.

The Worcester Park Tavern, in Park Terrace, has been shut since 2012 and was the subject of a five-year social media campaign to “save” it.

Now the owner of the site, Splendid Hospitality Group, wants to demolish the building and convert it into a 121-room Ibis Red hotel.

Resident Alison Sidebottom, of Pembury Avenue, went to the planning consultation meeting on July 16.

She said: "I like the idea that they have got. I think a hotel there is probably the best use of the space that there is, considering the car parking constraints.

"I think it's a shame [it's no longer open] but we've got several pubs in Worcester Park. As much as I'd like to see another one - I know that there was a lot of clamour for someone like [JD] Wetherspoon to take it over - I do wonder if there's actually the trade.

"I think it's probably better that it's turned into something than it sits rotting like it is now, it looks awful."

A new gym would have been welcomed as well, hoping it could be incorporated into the hotel plans, but overall she is generally positive about the plans.

She added: "Because there are restrictions to that area, if you put flats or something there it'd be a disaster. A hotel we don't have, and it brings jobs to the local community.

"So I'm all for it really.

"As long as it looks alright and that junction is thought about a little bit in terms of access to and from the site."

A Facebook page titled “Save the Worcester Park Tavern” was started on in May 2012 following the pub’s closure, having received more than 300 “likes”.

However, the last post was made in June 2017.

Previous owners, The Spirit Pub Company, sold the pub to hotel company Shahrastani Development Limited in 2012.

In 2014, the Shia Ismaili community group planned to turn the pub into a community centre but later switched gears to a different site after a petition from residents received more than 1,700 signatures.

Now the site is owned by Splendid Hospitality Group, according to the Government's Land Registry database.

The planning consultation was a first-look for people in the area, while an application is not expected to be submitted to Kingston Council until September.