By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
An historic Victorian building in Southport town centre will be transformed into a brand new 30 bedroom Wetherspoon Hotel after planning permission was granted this week.
Sefton Council says the conversion of the 19th Century four-storey Pavilion Buildings at 93-97 Lord Street will “restore the features of a building that have fallen into disrepair and bring back into use the vacant upper floor areas to secure its long-term viability”.
Planning permission was granted just a few weeks ago for the Garrick site, just a few doors away, into a scheme including 109 new hotel rooms, 12 luxury apartments, a gym and spa and a new theatre space, in a further boost for Lord Street.
The Wetherspoon scheme would see the revamp of its current Sir Henry Segrave pub site on the ground floor with a bigger public house customer area.
The upper floors, which were empty for several years having previously been used as council offices, would be converted into 30 ensuite hotel rooms.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The company is pleased to have been granted planning permission.
“The Sir Henry Segrave is an extremely popular pub in the town and we believe the addition of the hotel will be a great benefit to Wetherspoon as well as Southport itself.”
There is no timescale currently for when work will take place.
In a report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “The proposed development would retain an active frontage onto Lord Street and Coronation Walk, support the vitality and viability of the town centre and be a compatible use with the retail and commercial character of the area.
“The existing upper floors have been vacant for some time and their redevelopment would secure the re-use, repair and restoration of a heritage asset that would improve and benefit the area.
“Securing a compatible and viable use such as that proposed would likely enhance the prospect of the long-term conservation of the heritage asset.
The Sir Henry Segrave Wetherspoon pub on Lord Street in Southport
“The development would also provide facilities to encourage visitors to the Southport Central Area, which is a strategic location for tourism.
“The building housing the existing pub was built in the late 19th century. The cast iron verandahs to both frontages currently provide shelter for external seated areas.
“The building does require some refurbishment; however it is generally in a decent state of repair. The design of the upper floor decorative windows, surrounds and distinctive turret, placed centrally on the Lord Street frontage, ensure this Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA) makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.
“The proposed development would see both internal and external works. Internally, the layout would be altered to provide a new fire escape and hotel reception area as well as a refurbished bar and ancillary facilities to bring them up to the applicant’s current, more contemporary specifications.
“The upper floors would be fitted out to provide for new hotel rooms. Externally, the existing windows are in a various state of disrepair and would be replaced in a like-for-like fashion to maintain the original character and appearance of the building.
“The proposed development would restore the features of the existing building that have fallen into disrepair and bring back into use the vacant upper floor areas to secure its long-term viability.
“The proposal is a car free development given the accessibility of the site. Short term pay and display parking is available in the town centre; some long term parking is also available in car parks within walking distance of the site. The pub would, barring some minor layout changes, remain largely as existing.”
The upper floors were previously utilised as offices for Sefton Council’s Parking Services team and NSL private contract staff.
Stand Up For Southport revealed in 2021 how JD Wetherspoon was keen to bring a new hotel to Southport town centre.
The plans would see a new hotel reception area created on the ground floor, with a dedicated entrance.
The kitchen area would be extended into the existing ladies toilets, and refitted with new and additional equipment.
There would be bar upgrades to bring it up to current JDW specifications.
The existing male and female toilets would be relocated to the first floor.
Provision would be made for new customer disabled access.
A planning statement submitted by JH.A architects on behalf of JD Wetherspoon said: “The applicant JD Wetherspoon Ltd 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.
“In summary, the works proposed are as follows:
- Change of use on levels 1, 2, and 3 to a C1 class Hotel, creating 30 new en-suite hotel rooms.
- Alterations to the ground floor layout to create a hotel reception area and allowing access and required escape routes from the new hotel rooms on floors above.
- Kitchen to be increased in size and customer toilets relocated to floors above.
“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 (scheme) demonstrates JD Wetherspoon’s 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.”
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.
“At the turn of the 20th century, Southport was a leading venue for motor-racing. Henry Segrave was eventually knighted, dying in June 1930, having just set a new world record on Lake Windermere.
“The building the pub is in was built in c1880, and within a few years was wholly occupied by CF Chinnery’s furnishing emporium. Chinnery remained there until the 1930s.
“The ground floor is now occupied by The Sir Henry Segrave free house. In 1926 Segrave achieved a new land speed record of 152 mph on Birkdale Sands.”
The 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”.
The new investment follows the Government commitment of £38.5million in Town Deal funding for Southport in 2021, which is predicted to trigger a further £400 million of private investment, and has led to “renewed investor confidence in the town”.
An artist impression of the Marine Lake Events Centre in Southport
Construction is currently taking place to create a new £75 million Marine Lake Events Centre plus a water and light show on the Marine Lake.
The £75 million Cove Resort is due to be created on The Esplanade.
Further redevelopment is taking place at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport, which saw the opening of a rooftop bar this summer.
In a report to Sefton Council’s Cabinet in 2021, Sefton Council Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services Stephan Van Arendsen said: “The use of the upper floors of Pavilion Buildings for hotel bed spaces, and / or to increase the trading area and number of covers would support this end of Lord Street, would help to consolidate a successful business and contribute to wider vitality and viability of the town centre, particularly the leisure and night time economies.
“The council’s successful application for Town Deal funding predicted that over £400m of private sector investment would be triggered by the Town Deal and Council project. This commitment by the tenant underlines the renewed investor confidence in the town.”
Sefton was first approached by Wetherspoon in 2018 and in January 2019 it received a formal offer to acquire the freehold interest in Pavilion Buildings. Following the easing of hospitality venue restrictions in June 2021 Wetherspoon submitted a revised offer.
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