Pub giant J D Wetherspoon has gone on a charm offensive as they prepare for another attempt to move into Wells.

The pub company wants to take over the former bus station and Emporium building in Priory Road and called a public consultation at Wells Town Hall on Thursday night.

While TV crews gathered outside awaiting news of the award of the Freedom of the City to Mary Rand, J D Wetherspoon tried to persuade residents and business people that they should have the freedom to come to the city and sell cheap pints and thousands of dinners to pub goers and visitors.

They face an uphill struggle, having already been refused planning permission once, so the team from Wetherspoon came armed with displays of similar developments in historic locations, as well as assurances that they would listen to public concerns and try to find solutions which would suit everybody.

Some of those attending the meeting wanted to know why the main entrance had to be at the front, rather than the side or rear of the premises.

Nigel Connor for the chain said: "It is important that our premises look as friendly and welcoming as possible to passersby and having the entrance at the front really helps this.

"We would not see any issues in respect of noise or customer management in it being so."

Wetherspoon say they would like to allow some limited seating to the front of the premises but would accept a limitation on the times they could be used.

The company says concerns that the pub would damage the existing pub trade in the city were wide of the mark.

Mr Connor says that rather than damaging the local pub trade by offering discount drinks and cheap meals, a Wetherspoon could revitalise the area.

He added: "We have found that we attract people back into pubs who may not have visited a pub for a long time simply because other local pubs may not be offering what they want.

"As such we do aim not take away trade from other local pubs.

"Indeed in some cases local pubs benefit as people who may have travelled elsewhere for an evening out or a meal, decide to stay locally which may involving visiting other pubs, too."

After hearing concerns over the opening hours Mr Connor said: "It is extremely unlikely given the proximity of our neighbours that we will seek to open as late as 1am or be allowed to do so, even if we did."

He concluded: "From our perspective, the meeting was very cordial and a great opportunity to hear the views of local residents and for us to explain our plans for the premises should we be given permission to proceed.

"We always listen closely to local people as we do want our pubs to be part of the community from which after all the majority of our customers will come.

"We were encouraged by a number of residents who expressed their support for our plans after the meeting but fully appreciate that those plans need to reflect both the city itself and the location of the premises."

No fresh application has yet been presented to Mendip by J D Wetherspoon for Priory Road.