Gastropub bid for nightspot

A popular Stafford nightspot could be given a new lease of life as a gastro pub following a planned £250,000 revamp.

The former Hogshead pub, in Victoria Square, Earl Street is set to reopen after being taken over as a freehouse by entrepreneur Jeff Blundell, managing director of B&C Inns.

This will be Mr Blundell's third venture after opening the Fox & Hounds, in Shawbury, in 2009.

The new pub will be aimed at customers aged 25 and over and will offer top of the range food prepared by a team of five chefs.

Mr Blundell has submitted a planning application to Stafford Borough Council which has to grant consent for the plans due to the building having Grade II listed status.

As part of the plans there will be a larger improved kitchen, a new disabled toilet and an altered bar area with some outdoor seating.

The existing floors, walls and ceilings will be maintained, cleaned and improved but there will be no changes to the exterior of the building.

It is thought the new pub will be open by August and create around 20 new jobs.

Mr Blundell, aged 56, said: "The pub has been closed for around 18 months and is in a very poor and dilapidated state. We are taking on the lease as a freehouse to open a high quality gastro type pub."

Mr Blundell said the pub would be aimed at older customers and would be a music free venue.

He added: "I am very excited about it. It is a superb location and there are very few places in town centres these days that cater for middle aged people like this.

Borough councillor Chris Baron welcomed the plans for the pub but said the issue of seating outside needed to be considered carefully.

She said: "It is better that the pub is used but I am concerned about the seating outside as it is very close to two sheltered housing schemes and we don't want any problems with noise or nuisance. It is also very close to the cenotaph."

A decision on the planning application is due to be made by the end of June.