Second pub giant sizes up Welshpool

Less than a fortnight after pub giants JD Wetherspoon admitted to looking at Welshpool for its next pub location, national rivals Marston’s has apparently flagged up its interest in the market town.

The company owns and runs more than 500 pubs across England and Wales and are believed to be interested in the derelict Old Smithfield car park which is lying idle opposite the Tesco development.

One Welshpool landlord tipped mywelshpool off that “officials from the company have definitely visited the site and are pushing forward with plans”.

And Town Clerk Robert Robinson admitted that he was aware of Marston’s interest and has let them know the Town Council’s wish that they would only support such a venture should it be coupled with a major hotel chain on the site.

“I do know that Marston’s are interested but the town doesn’t need another pub. If they do want to come to the town then it is a policy of the council to only show support if it is built alongside a Travelodge or the like,” he said.

A hotel and pub/restaurant development would certainly add more appeal to the town as well as more jobs so planners are monitoring the development closely.

Marston’s is the UK's largest builder of new pubs and over the next three years it is committed to building 60 new food pubs. Only time will tell if Welshpool is to be one of them.