A former newspaper office could be turned into a pub under new plans.

The former Surrey Advertiser headquarters at Stoke Mill, in Guildford, has been empty since the pandemic, when it was closed by Reach plc.

Brewery and pub company McMullen and Sons has submitted plans for the site to Guildford Borough Council.

Plans put forward include building a single-storey extension at the front and back of the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The planned investment in the premises is more than £4.5m.

Jenny Strathern, property director for McMullen and Sons, said: “Stoke Mill, previously used as offices by Reach Plc, is situated on a picturesque riverside plot, has a rich history and offers a prime location for our latest venture.”

The building was previously a paper mill and a corn mill, prior to its conversion into office space.