Go-ahead for new covered courtyard at Walsall Wetherspoons pub

Wetherspoon's St Matthew’s Hall pub, in Lichfield Street, will see its existing conservatory demolished and replaced by a new extension aimed at improving facilities.

Bosses said the modern conservatory would also improve the external appearance of that part of the building, which leads onto the rear beer garden.

The Grade II Listed St Matthew’s Hall dates back to the 19th century and was built in 1831 to give Walsall a new library.

Around 20 years later, it was converted into Walsall County Court and also housed a savings bank and lecture hall.

In recent years, it has served as a pub and was previously called The Old Courthouse, in a nod to the building’s history. The original front facing Lichfield Street remains.

Maximise

In the application, agents DV Architects said: “We feel that the proposal will not only help to maximise the potential of the site and provide a much improved visitors area, it will also improve the external appearance with the removal the existing timber extension being replaced by a new, modern and high quality extension.”

Cotswold Archaeology, which produced a heritage assessment in response to the plan, said: “The development proposals seek to enhance a previously cluttered and incongruous element of the building, to provide a full length, enclosed space that would allow customers of St Mathew’s Hall to enjoy food and drink in a covered courtyard setting.

“The creation of the conservatory would also result in the establishment of a new vantage point from which to appreciate the historic street-scape of Leicester Street.

“The building, since its construction in 1831, has existed to serve the community of Walsall, first as a library, then as court and now as a prominent town centre bar and restaurant.

“The development proposals will offer no harm to Grade II Listed Building and would serve to preserve the significance of the designated heritage asset.”