Wetherspoon's £7m museum and hotel plan approved in Wolverhampton
A multi-million pound plan to transform a Wolverhampton Wetherspoons pub into a museum for the company has been approved.
Wolverhampton Council planners granted permission for the £7 million revamp of The Moon Under Water in Lichfield Street into its national Heritage Centre.
The refurbishment will also see the upper floors of the building converted into the museum and a hotel but with an additional floor being created to provide an extra 22 rooms.
It is anticipated around 50 new jobs will be generated as a result of the development, which has been welcomed by authority chiefs.
The company had originally been granted permission for the scheme in 2018 but instead expanded their plans to include the extra fourth floor, which will bring the total number of rooms to 90.
On the ground floor is the Moon Under Water but the existing upper floors have been out of use since 2006 and are in poor condition.
In their design and access statement, Wetherspoon PLC said: “The current building does dominate Lichfield Street and has a significant presence in the street-scene.
“It is unfortunate that the building has had such a chequered history and lain neglected for so many years.
“Having already purchased the freehold and gaining permission to enlarged public house and a new hotel demonstrates the applicant’s commitment to this building and the City of Wolverhampton.
“This further proposed investment by the applicant will secure the viability of the business and the long term future of the building.”
When the company unveiled its latest plans at the start of the year, spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The Moon Under Water is an extremely popular pub in the city.
“The planned re-development highlights our commitment to offering our customers the best pub possible. The addition of a hotel and heritage centre will be great additions too.
“We are proud to be investing in such a wonderful city as Wolverhampton.”
The building sits opposite the Grand Theatre, which has had plans approved to expand into the former post office next door to develop a pop-up theatre, while Wolverhampton Council is proposing to pedestrianise part of Lichfield Street.
