MYSTERY surrounds one of the Devizes businessmen vying to take over Munnelly's Bar in Southbroom Road, which closed three weeks ago.

Pub owner, the Punch Pub Company, confirmed this week it had received two bids for the franchise.

One is Brian Foster, proprietor of the Snooker Club in Station Road, who has held the keys to Munnelly's since former licensee Bill Montgomery handed them over three weeks ago.

Mr Foster intends to run the pub as a sports club, where customers can watch major sporting events on large video screens while they have drink.

He said: "The whole place will be gutted. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights it will be transformed into a disco nightclub."

Mr Foster said he will continue to run the snooker club, but admitted he he has submitted a second planning application to demolish the building and build five houses.

A previous application was turned down by Kennet District Council's regulatory committee last month.

Although the name of Jim Lynch, landlord of the Crown OC Bar in New Park Street, has been suggested, he has this week denied he has expressed any interest in Munnelly's.

He told the Gazette: "I've got my hands full running this place."

Punch said that a decision on the new landlord at Munnelly's is expected to be made sometime in the next two weeks.