DINERS and drinkers at a Weymouth town centre pub may soon be able to enjoy an al fresco experience on a rooftop if new plans go ahead.

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon wants to create a new ‘seaside-themed’ roof garden at The William Henry in Frederick Place.

It is also proposing to alter and improve the main entrance lobby.

Listed building consent from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is required to change the historic Grade II listed building, part of a terrace of houses built in 1834 in the gardens of Gloucester Lodge. It was owned by Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and brother of George III, hence the pub’s name.

The garden seating area would be mainly towards the back of the pubon the Great George Street side.

A document submitted with the planning application says it is unlikely the garden will be visible from street level, leaving the town conservation area largely unaffected.

The document, compiled by Design Venue Architects acting on behalf of Wetherspoon, says: “The works are necessary in order to provide a more centralised entrance to the premises and to form a new external seating area to the roof of the public house.

“The roof is currently only sparsely occupied by mechanical equipment and is generally unused. The garden to the roof would allow an increase in trade area for JD Wetherspoon and provide customers an al-fresco style dining experience.”

The proposed garden installation is within the existing building footprint and does not involve any extension works.

The total budget figure for the scheme is around £740,000.

A JD Wetherspoon spokesman said: “The proposal is to create a rooftop garden with a seaside feel providing outside dining tables and booths for groups, couples and individuals. It will be linked to the existing pub via a central staircase with a glazed atrium allowing vision and light into the existing pub/dining area.

“The atrium will also emphasise and promote the new additional space complimenting an already very successful pub outlet.

“Food will be delivered to this new floor through heated food hoists where customers can enjoy the new garden furniture, lighting, seating booths, covered dining areas and seaside surroundings.”

The plan has come under fire from residents in Great George Street.

Objecting to the plan in a letter, David and Fiona Fox claim customers would be able to see directly into residents’ bedrooms, and they have also raised concerns about potential noise and light levels.