'Unlucky' Wetherspoons to finally open (From Free Press Series)

'Unlucky' Wetherspoons to finally open

THE NEW Wetherspoon's is set to open in just over a month, after a construction that has been plagued by delays.

The building was gutted by fire before builders moved in, then asbestos had to be removed.

The company wrangled over the design, which also cost them time. Together with the architects spearheading the Pontypool build, Tuffin Ferraby Taylor, they decided on a bigger bar area and larger extension at the rear of the building.

The project was first announced in 2001 when the company said it hoped to open in 2002.

Wetherspoons took on a long lease on the four-floor site at 130-31 Osborne Road from Pontypool Park Estate.

Since then, a series of start dates passed without work beginning, before the premises was gutted by fire on November 13 2004.

Now a Wetherspoons spokesman has confirmed the pub is to open on April 10.

Forty-five new full and part-time jobs are to be created with the opening of the no-music chain of pubs, serving cheap beer and food.

The name has also been decided on and in Wetherspoon's tradition it's taken from a well-known local person.

Pontypool's branch has been named the John Capel Hanbury after the town's Victorian benefactor, who donated the land on which Pontypool hospital, the indoor market and other local amenities were built.

A Wetherspoons spokesman said: "We had hoped to be open by August 2005 and the contractors have worked hard to reach as earlier opening date as possible."