Former Goal Post pub has £350k revamp and reopens under new name
A trouble-hit pub which had its licence suspended has reopened under a different name and management – following a complete £350,000 transformation.
The former Lounge 107 pub, previously known as the Goal Post pub, reopened as The Leaping Wolf ahead of Wolves’ Premier League loss to Liverpool to a host of football fans.
The Punch Taverns-owned pub is being run by Bobby Basran, the director of The Leaping Pub company.
Bobby Basran, who owns The New Merridale in the city, said the the pub opposite the Molineux ground - was a ‘great location’.
The director of the Leaping Pub company said: “It’s very sports-orientated. When you walk around you see some classic Wolves pictures and pictures of Wolverhampton and how all of those areas developed and where we’re today.
“I’ve been in talks for the last six months. I saw it is a great location with a Premier League team on the doorstep. I own The New Merridale pub and I said we can rebrand it and refurbish it.
“The market we’re looking to to tap into is students and football fans.
“Even our branding - our logo - goes back to the 1970s Wolves. We’re very happy with that and it shows the link. The area needs that investment. We’ve got Wolves making big investments and there’s not many official Wolves-sorts-of-pubs and we’re in the shadows of the stadium.”
Bobby, from Tettenhall, said the whole pub was ‘stripped down’ and replaced.
He added: “It was stripped down and everything is brand new and we’ve gone really to town with it.”
Deputy Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Claire Darke attended the preview opening on Thursday to see the updated business.
Paul Pavli, managing director from Punch Taverns, said: "We’re really excited to have invested in this great community pub and with the Molineux being so close, the new name fits perfectly.
"The investment has transformed the Leaping Wolf and is sure to meet the demands of the varied customer base.
"Bobby and the team have some great plans to deliver a fantastic customer experience and I am sure the pub will go from strength to strength making a positive difference to the local community. I hope the community enjoy what we have created."
