Yates in Wolverhampton to become Slug and Lettuce

The bar and nightclub, which has been a fixture of the Wolverhampton city centre nightlife for years, is to have a complete overhaul and become a Slug and Lettuce, which has several bars across the country.

Both chains are run by the pub company Stonegate, which has decided to call time on the Yates brand in Wolverhampton.

The firm is ploughing major investment into the bar and nightclub, in Queen Square, which is one of the busiest places in the city centre at weekends and also a favourite with Wolves fans on matchdays.

Stonegate operates a Slug and Lettuce in Birmingham city centre, which has also proved popular, and has decided to extend the brand to Wolverhampton.

The pub company confirmed the plans for the venue but said full details surrounding the switch had yet to be finalised.

Yates, which serves food and shows live sport and becomes more of a nightclub on Friday and Saturdays, will close for a period for major changes to be made inside before opening again under the new name.

Staff said they had been informed of the changes but that it was not yet clear what it would mean for the existing workforce.

Deputy manager Dan Miller said: “We have just been told but as far as anything else goes we don’t know yet.

"We’re all looking forward to it.”

City councillor Milkinder Jaspal said the move was a boost for Wolverhampton and a ‘further sign of confidence in the city centre’.

He said: “I really welcome it, it is further investment in the city centre, it’s good news all round. It’s another positive change and a further sign of confidence in the city centre.”

The overhaul of Yates would be the latest improvements to be made to a city centre.

One of its main rivals, the Hogshead, recently underwent a refurb, while the Hooded Ram has opened on the former site of Indi Bar, increasing the offering in the city.

Stonegate said it would be providing more details over the changes in the coming weeks.

It comes just days after more details emerged on plans to transform the Queen Square and Lichfield Street area, which will become completely pedestrianised.

Work will soon be starting on rebuilding the train station, in another major change for the city.