New JD Wetherspoon confirmed for Caerphilly town
Published in News on Tuesday March 1st, 2011
National pub chain JD Wetherspoon is to open a branch in Caerphilly town after the council granted planning permission.
The new pub will occupy the old Co-Co discount store and the former Blockbuster video shop on Cardiff Road. Unlike most other planning decisions, the change of use from retail to drinking establishment was delegated by councillors to council officers.
Cllr Ron Davies, cabinet member for regeneration and countryside said: “This is fantastic news for Caerphilly town centre and we are delighted that this key building is to receive a complete makeover after being an eyesore for so many years.
“JD Wetherspoon has a reputation for delivering high quality developments that help enhance the retail experience for shoppers and visitors alike.
“This is yet another major lift for Caerphilly town centre and closely follows our recent announcement that the former post office building is also due to be redeveloped in the near future.”
Gosh all this good news from Ron lately. You could be forgiven for thinking that he’s the Leader of the Council.
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Can I ask where u got this information from as I have recently been on the weathspoons site and there is.nothing there.
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Hi Donna,
This has come straight from Caerphilly County Borough Council. I’ve checked the planning documents and it was a delegated decision made on 28/2/2011 – planning application number 10/0605/COU
Here’s the original planning paper as it was presented to Caerphilly County Borough Council on October 26
http://bit.ly/huMU8r
How do you feel about it? Do you think it will affect the trade of the Court House?
It’s Richard Gurner here by the way, I’m the editor of this website.
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From most people this decision has been long awaited. It’s a coup for Caerffili and follows in the wake of the old market opening as well as redevelopment of old post office, “competition is good” said a local Caerffili Town trader to me on Saturday.
Caerffili on the up, perhaps………at last
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Hi Richard,
Of course it will effect my business and all of the others in the town center. I feel will with the current economic climate it was very wrong decision for the council. We have enough pub and clubs in caerphilly.
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This will have a massive impact on the existing public houses in the vicinity. Granted each pub has their regular customers who wont be swayed. However, Weatherspoons with their cheap prices will attract the young market away from their competition. Also, there will be a huge impact on the food market, as again Weatherspoons offer cheap priced food, and themed nights. Visitors to the town will know the name weatherspoons, and will go there, rather than the existing pubs. Competition is good? for the consumer maybe, not for the business, Is Tesco opening a store in a new town good for the high street? It will force the other pubs to lower their prices to compete, and in a market when margins are incredibly tight, this will be very damaging.
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yes it with have a impact on the pubs but since the ceder tree closed the night club caerphilly has no night life im a taxi driver Monday to thuesday there`s nothing going on in the town i welcome jd wetherspoon`s to caerphilly.
and as for tesco`s we have 3 in the town castle view, crossways,in the town centre 24 hour 1 4 miles away 4 big supermarkets so whats 1 more pub going to do
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In the past 20 years we have actually lost pubs in the town.The Castle Hotel,The Crown and The Blue Bell.
I welcome Weatherspoons,it will also bring jobs for us too.
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I agree with Mike Evans’ post. Caerphilly has lost more pubs than it has gained!
I don’t see how investment in the area is bad!
A strong, well run business will survive the challenge and prosper. Did Tesco & Asda complain when Safeway (now Morrisons) moved into Caerphilly? No, they accepted the challenge, and worked to their own strengths!
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Great news for Caerphilly, other bars will need to step up a gear to compete.
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I think this is excellent Wetherspoons have certain standards ie. toilets that are clean unlike some of the local pubs in Caerphilly, maybe these pubs have to step up to Wetherspoon standards this can only be a good thing. Its about time Caerphilly done something positive for the community bring this town up to date and pull in the potential tourist to see this beautiful town.
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I think this will be a massive middle finger up to the other pubs in town, I agree with Bev Edwards the toilets and food etc is below satisfactory standard in most pubs in Caerphilly and this will force pubs to up their game! Granted it could be damaging for peoples livelihoods, business’ etc but if your doing a good job your customers will stay with you. I wouldnt change hairdresser just cos a cheaper one opened in town! And I think once the novelty has worn off and the majority of wetherspoons dont play music remember places like the courthouse will keep their customers. I think the pub most likely to suffer is the Kings Arms as this is very similar to a J.D wetherspoons and doesnt offer any late nights like the courthouse and Irish Thymes does or discos, bands etc which is where I think the Courthouse and IT will hang on in there.
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Great news. Hopefully bring a new place for a wider mix of people.. The Irish is 25+ (stupid in my opinion) but it obviously works 4 them, the kings full of 18 year olds n the courty, rediculous themed nights, full of creeps.. With a awful resident Dj..
Only pub I would go to up town us the Irish. But a wetherspoons would be awesome!
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Yes it will be a brilliant idea to have a jd wheatherspoons in Caerphilly more Pubs more people more jobs. It’s great to because the courthouse need a revamp because it’s old and to pricey on drinks same as the Irish thymes. I welcome wheatherspoons to Caerphilly. Got to be good hasn’t it.
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Effect existing business? Being honest is the best way and there’s NO more atmousphere in a few of the local pubs than when sitting in a doctors surgery!….wonder why that unusual comparison may come to mind?
In one local pub in the town center the mens toilet door seems to spend far too much time open and when us lady’s do go to use our toilets we are confronted with men using the urinals! Not much of a view on an evenng out with friends….a bunch of slobbering dribbling drunken blokes using the urinal!! uuuggghhh!
A good few of the pubs you talk about are in desperate need of modernisation! If you were a GOOD pub then another one opening in the area would not come as such a threat especially when people come from all over the Valley’s to Caerphilly to drink!
Its time the people in Caerphilly had a place like Wetherspoons to provide cheap beer and food with a good fresh approach to this millenium!
There are landlords within the area who do feel they ‘rule the roost’ when it comes to the ‘drinking patch’ but WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!
As for this pub affecting the food industry thats total rubbish!! They only serve food until 9pm but is this not the case for all the other pubs in the area who serve food?
Caerphilly has needed this for sometime!
These pubs are modern, great to use with a darn good atmousphere and even better a good pint for a good price!! How many pubs in Caephilly offer BEER AND LUNCH for less than a fiver?
Im a BIG fan of these places!
Well done CAERPHILLY COUNCIL!!!
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Here here Jackie well said! Echo your sentiments its long overdue and can only be positive for Caerphilly as a community! See you there for a decent meal and a cheap beer x
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