Jobs boost as South Shields Wetherspoons pub wins approval for £1.8million upgrade

JD Wetherspoon says jobs will be created when it remodels part of The Wouldhave, at the corner of Coston Drive and Mile End Road.

In March, the company won planning permission to demolition the adjoining Ranch House nightclub and build a pub extension with an external dining terrace.

It did not push ahead with the scheme, and instead returned to the drawing board to reshape its plan.

The firm has now been given the go-ahead to for a partial demolition of nightclub and connect it to The Wouldhave.

Part of the two-storey club will remain, and an external seating area to the southern side will be built.

Alterations to the elevations of club will also be carried out, including the addition of timber cladding to part of the ground floor.

It is not known if Wetherspoon is planning to spend the original sum on the project.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are always keen to improve our pubs for our customers.

“We are pleased that we have received planning permission to extend and develop The Wouldhave.

“We believe that the new-look pub will be welcomed by customers and that our investment will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the town.

Pub quiz: How much do you know about pub chain JD Wetherspoon?

“We will also be creating some new jobs as a result of the development. There are no on site dates at present.”

The outlet currently has around 12 full-time staff and 20 part-time, which will increase to around 18 and 24, respectively.

South Tyneside Council planners say the reduction in scale and size of the scheme, means it will not impact any further upon the visual amenity of its neighbourhood.

In a report, it said: “Indeed, it is considered that part demolition of the former nightclub and the timber cladding to ground floor would improve the general appearance of the area.

“The proposed terraced area would be larger than the existing terraced area to the nightclub, but it is not considered that it would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the area.

“In conclusion, the proposal as a whole would have a positive impact upon the visual amenity of the area.”

It added: “The nearest residential properties to the site are located approximately 50m to the north.

“They are screened from the pub by a row of trees and bushes to the north of Coston Drive.

“Therefore the main bulk of the buildings would predominantly screen any potential noise egress from the extended pub and terrace.

“Consequently it is not considered that there would be any significant further loss of residential amenity to the properties to the north than at present to warrant refusal.”

Watford-based JD Wetherspoon was founded by chairman Tim Martin in London in 1979, and today it has over 900 outlets nationwide.