Wolves pub to be demolished

The historic Molineux Street building used to be a popular haunt for thousands of Wolves fans but closed last year and sold to a mystery buyer.

But it can now be revealed that Wolves bought the building from Enterprise Inns and have submitted an application to the city council for its demolition.

What are your views on the demolition of The Wanderer? Share your views and memories of the pub in the comments section below.

Match day parking close to the ground has long been an issue for supporters and the club hopes more spaces to the rear of the Jack Harris Stand will help alleviate some of the problems.

Wolves carried out a similar but larger project in 2010 when they flattened Peel House on Waterloo Road. It had been the former home of Carillion and was turned into a car park creating around 140 spaces.

Club spokesman Matt Grayson said: "The Wanderer Pub has been unoccupied since 2013 and we have therefore purchased it. In the short term, we would demolish the pub and it will then become a car park and will be similar to what we had done with Peel House.

"It will be used primarily for match days. It has been unoccupied for some time and we are glad to bring the site back into some use."

The Wanderer, which sits in the shadow of Molineux, was a popular spot for Wolves fans but a lack of trade other than on match days is understood to have led to its closure. It is currently boarded up.

But Ian Stringer, chairman of Wolverhampton CAMRA, said he would have liked to have seen Wolves run the boozer.

He said: "I believe if Wolves fans had known that the club was running the pub more people would have gone. Wolves could have given it six months and if it wasn't viable then fair enough.

"I'm sure they looked at the business side of things but I would have liked them to have at least given it ago. It's another pub in Wolverhampton gone. It's a shock."

The bid for the demolition of the early 20th century building has been submitted by Tipton-based Humphries Demolition Ltd.

Since 2003, anyone looking to park in residential streets around Molineux have required a parking permit. And in 2011, traffic wardens slapped parking tickets on the cars of Wolves fans attending Matt Murray's testimonial game, causing outrage as supporters said it was not an official match.

The Wanderer is not the first pub with connections to Wolves in line for an overhaul. Earlier this month, the Express & Star revealed The Kings Arms on Dudley Road, Blakenhall, could be turned into shop under proposals also put forward to the city council. The 19th century building had been the former headquarters for Wolves during the club's days at The Dudley Road Ground. It was run by Jeremiah Mason, father of Wolves' first ever international player, Charlie Mason.