An award-winning Walsall pub will not be bulldozed to make way for a hotel, restaurant or another bar as part of the Waterfront project, developers pledged today.

The future of The Wharf 10 Bar in Wolverhampton Street, which opened in 1997, was thrown into doubt in 2006 after it emerged Urban Splash had drawn up plans which included a new multi-storey building on the land where the pub stands.

Since then the company has always maintained the development could be built around the pub if necessary and stressed nothing had been finalised. 

Pub staff and campaigners have always been convinced, however, they would be forced out – all the artists’ impressions and a scale model of the development show no sign of the pub.

Today Urban Splash said new impressions will be released in the next few months reflecting its decision to retain the pub.

Managing director Nathan Cornish said: “The Wharf Bar has a lease on the property. As far as Urban Splash is concerned there are no plans to replace the bar.”

Bar manager Lee Dyble said: “This is fantastic news. I can’t quite believe it.” 

Work on the £65 million development is due to start next month.