Pub firm won’t move into shop (From Ledbury Reporter)

Pub firm won’t move into shop

8:50am Monday 17th September 2012 in News

PUB chain JD Wetherspoon will not be moving into the former Eager Electrical store.

But Wetherspoon still has an interest in Ledbury, and it is still looking for suitable sites for a pub.

Martin Eager, the owner of the empty Homend store, has announced that discussions between himself and JD Wetherspoon were now “done and dusted”, after the pub chain was requested to make up its mind, and responded by deciding that the town centre premises was not suitable after all.

Mr Eager said: “It was not a suitable arrangement for either of us. So what happens now?”

Mr Eager, who is also a town councillor, revealed in January that talks were ongoing between Wetherspoon’s and himself.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said this week that putting a store into the former Eager Electrical could have led to “issues with deliveries”.

He said: “As a result, the deal never took place. Wetherspoon is still keen to have a pub in town, but at present has no sites under consideration. It will continue to look.”

Mr Eager is now holding talks with a number of new interested parties, in the hope that the extensive premises might reopen for a new lease of life, at some point after Christmas.

He said: “I would like to see a clothes shop in there – children’s or men’s perhaps.

“I am continuing discussions with various businesses.

“Most likely, nothing will happen until after the new year.”

Passers-by will have noticed some refurbishment going on at the site.

Mr Eager said two flats on the premises had been refurbished, and these had “already been taken” and would be occupied in October.