JDW pulls plug on £3m revamp
The Master Mariner, Wirral, which opened in 2013, was gearing up to a major revamp, which included expanding the adjoining Lacy’s Bar.
The seaside venue closed in March 2022 for the refurbishment. Works were set to finish in August but the pub chain announced its door had to remain shut while works continued, with no date given for when guests could return.
JDW spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “JDW can confirm that it has stopped redevelopment work at The Master Mariner pub (New Brighton) and will not progress with the work. The building and the land is to be put up for sale.
Commercial decision
“All staff will continue to work at other JDW pubs and there will be no redundancies as a result of the pub being sold. This is a commercial decision by JDW.
“The company remains committed to the Wirral and have a number of pubs in the region, including the recently opened pub in Heswall.”
JDW permanently shut the Edmund Halley in Lewisham, south London, on New Year’s Eve, and the Postal Order in Worcester on 9 January.
Selling sites
Last September, the pubco confirmed it would sell 32 pubs after appointing CBRE and Savills to place the sites on the market.
JDW said it was looking to dispose of 10 freeholds and 22 leasehold units.
In November 2022, a further seven pubs were put up for sale with the same property agents.
Savills director Paul Breen said in November: “Despite the volatility in the current market, interest in the properties that went onto the market in September has been encouraging with terms now agreed for several of the sites. We expect these additional properties to be equally appealing.”
