JD Wetherspoon bosses have revealed they have their eyes on The Charlton Arms in Wellington after being lobbied by hotel supporters from the town.
Wellington’s ‘civic hotel’, on Church Street, has been empty since it closed in August 2006.
But residents have been writing to the national pub chain requesting they take over the building.
Eddie Gershon, a spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon, said: “We have been made aware of the Charlton Arms and we have put it on a list of sites to have a look at it.”
Wellington Town Council clerk, Howard Perkins, has also received a letter from a member of the public informing the council that they and others have been contacting JD Wetherspoon.
Mr Perkins said: “Wellington Town Council has received a letter from a member of the public urging them to contact Wetherspoon.”
The town council hasn’t yet considered the letter’s request.
David Riley, president of Wellington Chamber of Commerce, said he has also heard people from the area have been contacting the chain.
He said: “As time progresses without finding a solution to the Charlton Arms, the building is spiralling into further decline, increasing the cost of re-development and reducing the opportunity to find an appropriate investor.
“Therefore the fact that JD Wetherspoon are showing interest is reassuring. In recent years the company has developed a number of successful, quality hotels. As long as this is the intention for the Charlton Arms, the initiative has the potential to be quite exciting.”
Liverpool-based owners, Nextdom, had hoped to transform the hotel into 42 luxury flats. But their plans were turned down and an appeal rejected by planning inspector Jeremy Sargent in August.
Since then, Nextdom have remained tight-lipped over future plans.
Councillor Roger Aveley said: “That sounds exciting news about Wetherspoon. Anything to bring the building back into use.
“It is in a terrible state.”
by Chrissy Symmons
