Demolition of Wolves pub The Wanderer approved, despite petition

The Wanderer, which was a popular haunt for Wolves fans until it closed last year, could now be flattened within six weeks.

Wolverhampton Council planning officer Andrew Johnson has granted Tipton-based Humphries Demolition consent to pull down the pub in Molineux Street.

The early 20th century pub was previously known as the Fox.

It closed last year after it emerged it had been sold to a mystery buyer, and last month the Express & Star that Wolves had bought the pub from Enterprise Inns with a view to demolishing it.

The club wants to create more match day parking around the ground, and believes turning the pub site into a car park could help alleviate traffic problems around the ground.

Ian Stringer, chairman of the Wolverhampton branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) said he was appalled by the decision.

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"It's a sad case for the community around there, especially for the Wolves fans who used to like to go in there for a drink after the match," he said.

"It should be viable, they should be able to make it work with the students and Wolves fans you get around there.

"I don't know why they just didn't give it a year, to see if they could make it work."

Mr Stringer said the fight to save the pub would continue, despite the decision.

So far, more than 2,300 fans have signed the 'Save The Wanderer' petition on the website you.38degrees.org.uk

The petition has not been presented to Wolverhampton Council's planning department.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that another popular matchday haunt, Lounge 107 ­— formerly The Goal Post ­— was also under threat of the bulldozers.

Owner Punch Taverns confirmed it had exchanged contracts to sell the pub to Asda, on condition the supermarket could secure permission to demolish the venue and replace it with a petrol station.

Mr Stringer said if The Wanderer was lost, it would be all the more important to fight to retain Lounge 107, which is in Waterloo Road.

A third pub with close links to Wolves, The King's Arms, in Dudley Road, Blakenhall, is also at risk.

Planning permission has been granted to turn the pub ­— which was Wolves headquarters in the 19th century ­— into shops.

The pub, which was the base for Wolves, when they played at Dudley Road, was run by Jeremiah Mason, father of Wolves' first international player, Charlie Mason.