Now Wetherspoon's eye former Courts building

Confirmation of the about-turn came from a company spokesman.

He said the deal had fallen through after the owner of the Hastings Glass site decided not to sell. But Wetherspoon's have declared a provisional interest in the recently-closed Courts furniture showroom in St Leonards Road (pictured).

Plans to build a Wetherspoon's at the eastern end of Wickham Avenue met with huge controversy earlier in the year, when Rother councillors gave unanimous backing to the scheme in March.

The move to grant planning permission angered residents who handed in a petition with over 350 signatures.

Some campaigners even suggested they would seek legal advice against the council. The site will now operate as a furniture showroom and small glass works.

A Wetherspoon's spokesman said: "It's no longer going ahead at Hastings Glass because they no longer want to sell the property.

"Wetherspoon's still want to open in Bexhill and see it as a great town.

"We are well aware the Courts building is up for sale and we may be interested, but at the moment it's gone no further than that.

"We would probably be just one of the many parties interested in it."

Campaigner Richard Thomas, of Wickham Avenue has been celebrating the news.

He said: "It's a brilliant thing and we're terribly delighted for residents around here.

"Local shop owners are delighted by it and the people who live in Wickham Avenue are too. It would have ruined the atmosphere of the area and with concerns over parking and noise it just wasn't suitable.

"The campaign against Wetherspoon's was a marvellous united effort and all those people deserve credit."

Mr Thomas thought the Courts building would be a far better place for the pub, but still had some reservations.

He added: "I suppose our concerns around binge drinking would be the main question around it, but in other respects I think it would be a much more suitable site.

"In terms of changing the environment it might not be as much of an issue there."