Work restarts on South Shields Wetherspoons pub The Wouldhave - with new reopening date set

The popular pub, in Mile End Road, closed in October 2019 for an extensive refurbishment and expansion project, costing just over £2.2million.

It was due to reopen on March 24, 2020, but following the coronavirus lockdown regulars will have to wait a little longer for it’s return.

As of Monday, July 13, work has now restarted on the development and a new date of September 8, 2020 has been set for it to welcome customers back through its doors.

The Wouldhave, which first opened as a Wetherspoon branch in July 1998, is undergoing a complete refurbishment project, as well as expansion to the customer area and the creation of a new garden.

Wetherspoon has acquired an adjacent building, which will be partially demolished to create a new split-level terrace garden.

The retained part of the former nightclub premises will be used to extend the customer area of the pub and house the new relocated bar and cellar area.

The work also includes a new kitchen, new staff facilities and reconfigured and refurbished customer toilets.

The venue will be completely refurbished and redecorated throughout, including a new colour scheme and finishes, new carpets and lighting, as well as a mixture of new and refurbished furniture and artwork.

Staff were deployed to other Wetherspoon pubs in the region during the closure for the work, and are expected to return for the reopening.

An additional 25 full and part-time jobs will also be created when the pub reopens.

Plans put forward to alter the Ranch House building were approved by South Tyneside Council in 2018.

Speaking in October 2019, The Wouldhave manager Phil Riddle said: “Wetherspoon is spending £2.2million on the pub, providing further substantial investment into the area, as well as creating new jobs for local people.

“Myself and my team will look forward to welcoming customers back into The Wouldhave and we are confident that they will be impressed by the new-look and larger pub, as well as the brand new garden.”

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