The mayor of Beaconsfield has said he hopes Wetherspoons will ‘take into consideration’ the history of its new site in the town amid ‘mixed’ local reactions.

JD Wetherspoon revealed last week that it had U-turned from its decision to put the building earmarked for a pub in Beaconsfield New Town on the market in August 2023.

The former Prezzo restaurant on Station Road is expected to undergo a £2 million overhaul following the popular pub chain reclaiming ownership.

Mayor of Beaconsfield Jackson Ng previously told the Free Press that he was “somewhat relieved” to hear that the site had been put on the market and expressed a preference for it to be developed into a “restaurant or cinema” instead. 

After news broke that the historic building at 12-14 Station Road was once again on track to become a new branch of the pub chain, however, Mr Ng said he “welcomed” the move, so long as the developers “take into consideration the history and prominence” of its location.

He added: “We were disappointed when Prezzo closed – my family loved going there and I know there were mixed feelings locally when Wetherspoons turned up as a replacement.

“Personally, I think it would be great if we had a cinema here, but I also just want something to happen with that site. It has a very prominent position in our unique and beautiful town.

“Ultimately, the most important thing is that there are fewer empty shopfronts in Beaconsfield – I’m just hopeful that work will start, and something will happen there soon. I look forward to having a pint when it does!”

Bucks Free Press:

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Wetherspoon was granted permission to change the building’s use to a public house in July 2022, with Buckinghamshire Council’s conditional permission stating that work should begin no later than three years from the decision notice.

However, after more than a year of silence, the pub chain put the site on the market last summer, seemingly scrapping the plans. 

Speaking on Tuesday, April 9, a spokesperson for Wetherspoon told the Free Press that the brand had “decided to develop its site in Beaconsfield, the former Prezzo restaurant on Station Road”.

They added that imminent development work would be subject to licensing approval.

Documents submitted to Buckinghamshire Council's portal set out a pub conversion over two levels with an outdoor terrace at the front and a first-floor terrace at the back, partly covered with a glass canopy.

Normal opening hours would be Sunday-Thursday, 7am-12am, and Friday-Saturday, 7am-1am.