Fast food chain Burger King is set to return to one town, taking over a soon-to-be vacant WH Smith.

A planning application has been submitted to make minor changes to the Grade II-listed unit in Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells.

The WH Smith is part of the former Opera House and Colonnade which is also home to several independent shops and a Wetherspoons.

The nearest Burger King to Tunbridge Wells is more than four miles away, in the A21 services near Pembury.

Tunbridge Wells has been without a Burger King since 2005. The previous store closed without explanation, but now, after 18 years, it is set to make its return.

The application lays out plans to install an external extract duct, replace condensers, and make minor refurbishments to the building.

The initial proposals were submitted to Tunbridge Wells council on September 26.

If the application is approved, Burger King will move into the ground floor and basement of the unit, redecorate the staff toilets and add a new dry store, manager’s office, staff room and storage area to the basement, while also converting the ground floor into a kitchen/dining area.

WH Smith will still have a presence in the town at its two-storey store in the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre.