People have described the area left behind by an axed Wetherspoon development as an "eyesore".
The Master Mariner in New Brighton, Wirral, has remained closed for a year due to a £3m revamp which included expanding into the adjoining Lacy’s Bar. The project was set to be completed last August but the pub chain announced that its doors had to remain closed while works continued, with no date given when people could return.
But a spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon has now confirmed the development will not be taken any further, with the original project behind schedule and left incomplete. The move is said to be a “commercial decision” with the building and land being put up for sale.
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All staff will continue working at other Wetherspoon chains. The company added that no redundancies will occur as a result of the sale.
Since the ECHO announced the news on Tuesday, hundreds of people have taken to Facebook to share their views, with one ECHO reader describing the development as "Neverspoons."
Mick Cannon said: "Sad that, I enjoyed going there in the nicer weather."
Mary Kelly said: "I liked Wetherspoons being there as there are already lots of restaurants in New Brighton so it was nice to have a bar with reasonable prices for coffees and drinks to go to."
Mike Cotton said: "Another eyesore for a few years like the other bit of land close to it which has been left for years!"
Helen Jane similarly added: "What an eyesore, so sad to see the front like this. Absolute disgrace."
Lisa Slater said: "Someone needs to make this a great venue for food an families during the day but good for events and bands etc in the evening."
Tiberius Magnus said: "Too bad, the area could've used a decent beer garden with decent prices."
However, on the other side of the argument, Eddie Fleming said: "Thank god we don't need more spoons. We need more cocktail lounges on this side of the water or put a zipline from top of Travelodge to perch rock."
A Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We understand the disappointment of our regular customers at our decision not to re-open The Master Mariner. We still have a number of pubs in the Wirral where customers can enjoy the full Wetherspoon food and drink offer.
"Our closest pub is the Claireville, in nearby Wallasey. We have also carried out a significant refurbishment at the Dee Hotel in West Kirby as well as investing £3million in opening the Prense Well in Heswall in June last year.
"We will be shortly erecting hoardings around the Master Mariner site which will improve its visual appearance."
The pub originally opened in 2013 on the site of the former RJs and the Playas Lounge nightclubs. While Wetherspoons had pointed towards its commercial decision for pulling the plug on the expansion, the building itself had been the centre of a number of issues.
The former Lacy's Bar building, a key part of the expansion, presented a significant hurdle for the reopening due to its "poor state" when works were taking place.
In a statement released to the ECHO on Tuesday, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon can confirm that it has stopped redevelopment work at The Master Mariner pub (New Brighton) and will not progress with the work. The building and the land is to be put up for sale.
“All staff will continue to work at other Wetherspoon pubs and there will be no redundancies as a result of the pub being sold. This is a commercial decision by Wetherspoon.
“The company remains committed to the Wirral and have a number of pubs in the region, including the recently opened pub in Heswall.”
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