PUB giant Wetherspoons is planning a £1 million expansion of its branch in Bingley town centre.
The company has this week submitted a planning application to expand The Myrtle Grove on Main Street into a neighbouring unit – the former Natwest bank.
The work will include the first floor of the vacant bank being demolished to make way for a 1,300 sq ft beer garden/roof terrace.
A spokesman for the pub company says the expansion is needed due to the Bingley branch being “extremely popular,” and believe that work will “act as a catalyst for further investment in the town.”
The Myrtle Grove, opposite the entrance to Myrtle Park, is adjacent to the Bingley Town Centre Conservation Area – a protected area of the town.
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The application, which has been submitted to Bradford Council, is for the change of use from the bank building to A4 (bar and pub) use and the demolition of first floor to provide external terrace including glazed lobby, canopy and glass balustrading.
A new frontage, including bi-fold doors, would also be added to the former bank, and there would be outdoor seating in front of the expansion.
And a new fire escape would be built on the rear of the extension.
Wetherspoons says the contract for the project is conditional on the grant of planning permission and a premises licence by Bradford Council.
It would create an extra 1,130 sq ft customer area for the pub and the additional 1,300 sq ft beer garden on the first floor/roof.
The planning application says: “The extension to the public house and proposed terrace garden is designed to give an uplift to the site, which is currently a vacant unit and it is believed it will contribute positively to the area of main street that is adjacent to the conservation area.”
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The Myrtle Grove is an extremely popular pub.
“We are always keen to give our customers the best possible pub and believe that our plans will enable us to do this.
“The planned investment also highlights our commitment to the pub and the town itself and will hopefully act as a catalyst for further investment in the town.”
A decision on the application is expected to be made by the Council in early March.
Bingley town centre has seen some major changes in recent years, including the demolition of the Bradford and Bingley Headquarters, just yards from the Wetherspoons, and the construction of a new Lidl on the site.
New drinking venues like the Potting Shed, 99 and Main, Chip N Ern and Martinez have boosted the town’s evening economy, and popular pubs Brown Cow, The Old White Horse and Bingley Tavern have undergone refurbishments, with the latter being re-branded Bingley Brew House.
