Pub chain JD Wetherspoon submits plans to create a 30-bedroom hotel above one of its current Merseyside pubs. Andrew Brown reports
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has submitted plans to create a new 30-bedroom hotel on Lord Street in Southport.
This new development would be located at the four-storey Pavilion Buildings on the corner of Lord Street and Coronation Walk, at 93-97 Lord Street It would incorporate its existing Sir Henry Segrave pub already on the site.
Wetherspoon would see a bigger public house customer area along with 30 ensuite hotel rooms and associated ancillary accommodation on the upper floors. It would also involve the creation of a hotel entrance and reception area.
Upper floors of the building were previously utilised as offices for Sefton Council’s Parking Services team and NSL private contract staff.
It follows the recent granting of planning permission in April for 109 new hotel rooms, 12 luxury apartments, a gym and spa, a theatre and a bar and restaurant at the Garrick building nearby on Lord Street.
A planning statement submitted by JH.A architects on behalf of JD Wetherspoon said: “The applicant JD Wetherspoon currently occupies the building on the ground floor as a trading pub. The proposed works are required to facilitate their occupation of the upper levels of the building as a hotel.
“Sefton Council’s recent Hotel and Visitor Accommodation Study identified a need for a significantly increased supply of hotel bed spaces, particularly in Southport.”
It added: “The Sir Henry Segrave has been trading as a JD Wetherspoon pub on the ground floor of the building. The floors above are currently empty and not in use, although they have been used as office areas in the past.
“The floors have good ceiling heights, and offer plenty of natural light from the regular run of windows along both facades.
“Eternal details of the building will be retained. Internally, heritage values will be symbolised through a traditional pub aesthetic with historical plaques celebrating its history.
“The design retains all existing access points in the building. A new DDA access ramp will replace the existing, maintaining access to all levels within the ground floor area.
“The (scheme) demonstrates JD Wetherspoons capabilities of reviving significant buildings. By taking into account history and heritage, they are able to meaningfully revive and restore existing structures to become spaces that are open and inviting to the public.”
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JD Wetherspoon is keen to keep the name of the pub, which celebrates one of Southport’s most legendary figures.
JH.A architects said: “The Sir Henry Segrave pub is named after Sir Henry Segrave who, in 1926, raised the land-speed record to 152 mph in his 350hp 4.5-litre Sunbeam Ladybird, on Southport’s Birkdale Sands.
These plans for a new JD Wetherspoon Hotel in Southport follow a Sefton Council study carried out three years ago which revealed “a need for a significantly increased supply of hotel bed spaces in Southport”.