Work on a major Merseyside JD Wetherspoons is not set to continue any further with the company announcing that it is pulling out of the project.
The Master Mariner in New Brighton, Wirral, had been the subject of a £3 million revamp which included expanding into the adjoining Lacy’s Bar. The pub originally opened in 2013 on the site of the former RJs and the Playas Lounge nightclubs.
In March 2022 the seaside bar and restaurant closed as works began on the transformation. Works were set to be completed in August of the same year but the pub chain announced that its doors had to remain closed while works continued, with no date given when people could return.
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A spokesperson for Wetherspoons has now confirmed that 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.
All staff will continue working at other Wetherspoon chains. The company added that no redundancies will occur as a result of the sale.
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.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed in November 2022 that the project “needs to be reviewed” due to the condition of the neighbouring premises which provided space for the expansion. It was decided that the Lacy’s building needed to be demolished and the work took place in January of this year - completed in the same month.
There had been hopes of starting work on the build later this month but instead Wetherspoons will not be continuing with the development altogether. The pub chain said it remains committed to the Wirral and recently opened a new premises in Heswall.
The plans for The Master Mariner expansion were approved in the summer of 2021. Wetherspoons initially bought the neighbouring Lacy’s Bar in 2015 but was previously slammed for not developing the "eyesore" building.
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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