Wetherspoon reveals plans to open a MUSEUM where punters can drink in the pub chain’s 40-year history after £7m revamp of city centre boozer
- Bosses submit plans to transform The Moon Under Water pub in Wolverhampton
- Art Deco space will be turned into a national museum and 70-bedroom hotel
- Museum will tell history of successful company, founded in 1979 by Tim Martin
- Hotel will be created in space above pub which has lain empty for 30 years
British pub chain Wetherspoon has announced plans to open a museum as part of a £7million redevelopment.
Bosses have submitted proposals to transform The Moon Under Water pub in Wolverhampton city centre into a national museum and 70-bedroom hotel.
The museum will tell the history of the hugely successful company, founded in 1979 by businessman Tim Martin, who this week hosted a Brexit debate at the pub.
Wetherspoon bosses have submitted proposals to transform The Moon Under Water pub in Wolverhampton city centre into a national museum and 70-bedroom hotel (artist’s impression)
The museum will tell the history of the hugely successful company, founded in 1979 by businessman Tim Martin, who this week hosted a Brexit debate at the pub (pictured)
The hotel will be created in space above the pub which has lain empty for more than 30 years.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: ‘We have great plans for the popular The Moon under Water pub.
‘We believe this will be great for the pub, its customers and just as importantly the city itself.
‘We feel the museum will prove popular with people who want to know more of the history of the company and see artefacts from the past.
‘The fact that Wetherspoons wishes to house it in Wolverhampton is positive for the city.’
The hotel will be created in space above the pub which has lain empty for more than 30 years
The Moon Under Water (file pictured) is one of 900 pubs operated by Wetherspoon in the UK
Wetherspoon operates around 900 pubs, including the chain of Lloyds No 1 bars and a growing number of Wetherspoon hotels.
Wolverhampton’s cabinet member for city economy, Councillor John Reynolds, said: ‘This planning application from Wetherspoon is very welcome, subject to approval, will breathe new life into this building.
‘There is currently £1 billion investment in the city centre and this exciting scheme is another example of the growing in confidence in our city.
‘It will deliver a significant number of jobs and for a national chain like Wetherspoon to choose City of Wolverhampton for its national museum is an honour.’
It comes after it emerged the anonymous Twitter prankster behind one of social media’s most loved parody accounts is set to be unmasked following a high court case brought by Wetherspoon.
The imposter account has amassed almost 40,000 followers, posting false updates under the name ‘Tom from Spoons’.
The mystery tweeter often posts abusive replies to unsuspecting social media users, who believe the account is real, the High Court heard.