JD Wetherspoon museum to launch alongside hotel development
JD Wetherspoon will launch a museum telling the story of the firm's history as part of an expansion of its Wolverhampton pub The Moon Under Water.
Planning permission is being sought for the firm to expand the upstairs floors of the site on Lichfield Street, which was once leased by the O'Neills pub brand. The plan is part of a £7m proposal to renovate the building, which has been empty for more than 30 years.
The development also includes the creation of a 70-bedroom hotel, and is expected to create 50 jobs.
Plans to develop a museum to mark the pub chain and its history have been in the works for some time. The launch is expected to coincide with the firm's 40th year of trading in 2019.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told local newspaper Express & Star: "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 Wetherspoon wishes to house it in Wolverhampton is positive for the city.
"We are also confident that it would act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in Wolverhampton."
