At last! Merlin's bar in Dudley back in use
A former wine bar in Dudley empty for more than 20 years is to get a £650,000 overhaul to help revamp the town centre and save jobs.
The former Merlin’s building, on 203-204 Wolverhampton Street, has stood derelict for two decades and council chiefs want to refurbish it in order to save 14 jobs and create four more. A deal has been agreed for it to house a recruitment company.
The street has previously been described as the ‘gateway’ to Dudley town centre.
The refurbishment works will start this autumn and look set to be complete by spring next year.
The regeneration of the site will ‘assist and deal with a long-term dilapidated building that blights this part of the Conservation Area’ said council chiefs.
Councillor Khurshid Ahmed welcomed plans, saying the revamp would ‘liven up’ the area.
He added: “This is really positive for Dudley. This building has been shut down for a long time now and is in need of repair.
“Now we can bring it back to live and liven up Wolverhampton Street.
“I am thrilled that work can hopefully start on this soon.”
A report on the revamp said: “The property is owned by Dudley MBC. After a lengthy marketing exercise, the Council has secured a forward sale of the refurbished building to a local recruitment company.
“The Council therefore has the opportunity to retain 14 jobs within the town centre, create four new jobs, provide a business assist and deal with a long-term dilapidated building that blights this part of the Conservation Area.
“A forward sale of this nature is very rare under current market conditions and the Council is therefore keen to progress the project.”
“The estimated project cost is £644,488 with works costs based on independent quantity surveyor budget figures.
The council can generate approximately £260,000 from the sale of the property and £200,000 of Heritage Lottery Grant to support the works.
However, due to the excessive costs of the repairs, the council has an approximate shortfall of £188,488 on the funding package.”
The bar originally opened as Merlin’s in the early 90s but after hitting troubled times, various plans were put forward.
Proposals to convert it into a sheltered accommodation complex for the elderly were also thrown out in the late 90s.
