New-look Hanley Wetherspoons hit by delays

The reopening of Hanley's Wetherspoon has been hit by delays. The Reginald Mitchell has been shut to punters for six weeks while a £1.4 million refurbishment is carried out.

The Tontine Street venue had been due to welcome back city centre customers tomorrow (November 27) ahead of the busy Christmas rush. But is has now been confirmed that the relaunch has been pushed back to December 12.

The pub will reopen to customers at 8am and the official ribbon cutting will take place at 10am. The cause of the hold-up has not been revealed.

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Work has included repairs to the roof of the historic Grade II-listed building, which used to be a meat market. A new step free access is also being installed to help those with disabilities. And a full internal redecoration with new staff facilities and changing rooms is being completed.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The investment highlights the company’s commitment to Hanley, to its staff and to its customers. The pub plays an important part in the town’s social scene and we trust that it will continue to do so for many more years to come.”

The building was first constructed in 1831 as a butchers' slaughterhouse. But the meat market closed in November 1987 and stallholders went to trade in Hanley Market underneath the Potteries Shopping Centre . It then became a shopping centre before housing Wetherspoons and book store Waterstones.

Wetherspoon also has The Arnold Machin in Newcastle, The Wheatsheaf in Stoke, The Wheatsheaf in Cheadle, The Green Dragon in Leek, The Bradley Green in Biddulph, The Poste of Stone in Stone and The Picture House in Stafford. The chain is famed for its budget-friendly grub and pints, often housed in buildings steeped in history.

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