National pub chain JD Wetherspoon is looking at buying the former Co-Co building in Caerphilly town centre.
The eyesore building, at the top end of town, is felt by many residents as a blot on the town. Caerphilly County Borough Council has welcomed JD Wetherspoon’s interest in the building.
Councillor Ron Davies, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and countryside said: “This is great news that JD Wetherspoon has shown an interest in purchasing the former Co-Co building, and have proposed the signing of a conditional lease agreement with the building’s owners.
“This agreement is at very initial stage – planning permission for change of use and other matters will need to dealt with in the normal way.
“We have been led to understand the company intends to totally refurbish the premises to achieve the high Wetherspoon standard. A good quality family restaurant is just what we need to compliment the town’s shopping centre.”
Cllr Davies added: “There has been much discussion about regeneration of the top of town in Caerphilly, and it is no secret that our ambitious plans to breathe new life into this part of the town have been placed on the ‘back burner’ in the current economic climate, so this is great news for the town and local people.
“This proposal is being warmly greeted by local residents as JD Wetherspoon is a very respected company. The development will help to regenerate the upper part of the town centre and give an modern upbeat feel in our county borough’s landmark town.”
Does Caerphilly town centre need another pub? Let us know your thoughts below.
yes we do need a wetherspoons and the more pubs the less crowding and less trouble
Werherspoons definiely required especiall due to poor availability of proper beer (Real Ale) in South East Wales. All other major Valleys towns have a Wetherspoons.
Most definitely. It will not only provide jobs and good prestige to a blighted part of Caerphilly it will also provide somewhere safe and secure to enjoy a night out.
Yes there should be a Wetherspoons in Caerphilly!! Other towns and Cities have one soo its like we are catching up to them!!
i was involed in tacking public opinean on this to say “This proposal is being warmly greeted by local residents" is most sertanly a lie a number of the residents who alredy experiance a large anount of truble from drunken pub goers at kiking out time. are extermly whord about what anther pub will do for this problem.
the rest of the people interviwed liked that the bilding whould be used but were not happy that it was a Wetherspoon's
I have to support Geraint's comments; Local residents already have enough problems on the weekends because of the noise and disruption, not to mention petty crime and vandalism, that is created from Caerphilly's pubs and clubs on the weekends.
Poor police presence is the main issue – I accept they are visible in hotspots like Pentrebane St. and outside takeaways, but they seem to neglect to patrol the side streets which is where the shouting matches and fights break out, and where drunken vandalism occurs.
That said, as long as Wetherspoons' were sympathetic to the local community's concerns and the police were prepared for the additional workload, I think it's probably preferable to the eyesore that is the Co-Co building. I despair about the impression vistors get when leaving the train and bus station.. "Welcome to caerphilly, here's some run-down vacant buildings with poor A-level standard fantasy oil paintings stuck to the front to try and distract you. By the way, the castle is down the hill to your right past the charity shops, takeaways and our newest addition, Cash Converters." Nice.
Yes, certainly. It would appear that Geraint has only spoken to antis. There are other pubs in the area burt I think some people do not know enough about Wetherspoons.
Do the other pubs supply selection of Real Ale ? NO
Is there a cafe in Caerphilly Town Centre providing menu of Hot Meals (Not Snacks) NO
Do the other pubs have a reputation of good employers and providing many jobs ? NO
Do the other pubs ever get praised by the Police and win "Safe Awards". ? NO
Could people more elderly comfortably go to any town centre pub on a Friday or Saturday night ? NO
The answers to a Wetherspoons would be YES !!!
Please don't be a killjoy Geraint
Phil
Geriant
Having read your post I think you have a very good case for suing your local education authority.
As for Wetherspoons, I think it will be excellent for the town.
phil, clearly you haven't tried the Irish Tymes as that is excellent for persons of all ages to enjoy a night out. Good selection of whiskies too!
As for geraint, first learn how to spell and perhaps we'll take your comments more seriously.
As for the argument about bringing in more trouble, there is only a finite number of clients. All that will happen is that people will go to Wetherspoons instead of the likes of the Courthouse or Kings Arms.
The current issue is (as pointed out above) that the Police presence at that time should be heavier. Also the pubs are not harsh enough on those causing trouble. Wetherspoons, being a national chain, are infinitely more responsible and will ensure any troublemakers are handed over to the local authorities for proper action to be taken.
Welcome to Caerphilly J.D.Wetherspoons!
Agree Steohen. Welcome to Wetherspoons and your comments "wot" apply to Geraint together with Russell Jones's humourous remark. The Irish Thyme does not provide proper beer but only the "gassy fizz" variety. In a pub I expect to be able to drink beer as it should be and not treated for worse for 50/60 years now. Wetherspoons promote Welsh breweries and Welsh food. I do not think that they would necessarily take people from The Courthouse or Kings but they would attract a different clientile from further away who would have to pass top of town shops to reach there bringing much needed trade to the area. They could kick start further developments at the top.
Indeed, Wetherspoons would bring much to Caerphilly. I just hope the old farts on the council don't block the move yet again
A Wetherspoons would be a good addition to the town, but some better and more varied shops would surely bring more people to the area.
Like someone said here earlier, the shops here are either takeaways or charity shops.
I also agree with what was said earlier about potential trouble from drinkers in the town, after chucking-out time. Although some of the pubs in town now have an over-25s admittance policy, there still seems to be incidents occuring on the weekends.
Wetherspoons would probably have doormen employed during the weekends (like the one in Pontypridd), but that would only serve to move trouble-makers on to other pubs in the town, once they were off the premises.
Whetherspoons will provide a much needed family resturant to Caerphilly.
Trouble will always happen on the weekend in Caerphilly until its policed correctly.
The majority of people who want to go out for food and drinks and not cause trouble should have the option to go to Whetherspoons.
i think its a brilliant idea to have a whetherspoons in caerphilly town centre,ive been going to the courthouse, and kings for years and there does get alot of trouble but thats like most pubs when you got idiots who like to cause trouble. not all the time tho, and where ever you go theres always gonna be some idiots causing trouble. if they have bouncers on weekends,and more police around i dont think it would make any difference,only difference it would make to me and my friends, and family is good, i would definately go there not only through the week but on weekends to because i love their food and the atmosphere is always mellow n friendly when i have been to newport and ponty.
I am glad to notice that people are now coming round to what seems to be public opinion in favour of Wetherspoons. When a new proposal for a Wetherspoons appears, there are always people voicing anti Wetherspoons objections, but I read recently of a man who was anti but when it apprived and saw it for himself he didn't know why he should have objected as he was so imptressed.. People shout about other pubs and cafes closing down but it does not happen, in fact there was another pub next door to Wetherspoons site in Hereford. It is still there. One comment I have seen is that if they will not or cannot compete that should not prevent somebody else coming in and providing what they cannot. People in town would go to a Wetherspoons dorm a wider area who would not go to any nearby pubs and cafes anyway to use a cafe/pub relaxed atmosphere with separate family area allocated in most cases. Wetherspoons pub staff also take part in many activities to raise money for good causes. Yes, bouncers are emp;oyed at weekends nor do do people fall out of them in the early hours as the slightest sign of trouble is not tolerated.
Apologies for a number of spelling mistakes in the last post but I'm afraid I submitted without the chance to check over. It should be easily understood. Roll on premises where full hot variety of meals available including Welsh produce in a cafe environment. Local breweries also supported.
I have found out that the Wetherspoons is going to be a lloyds bar and will be even better for the community takin less strain off Pentrebane street and a safer place to drink for the nightclub sene in caerphilly town
yes! yes! yes! just what we need!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE CALL IT TOMMY COOPER ARMS 🙂