Award-winning landlord's plan to create ale bar in prominent Wolverhampton shop unit gets the go-ahead

The former Mike Lloyd Music store in Queen Square in Wolverhampton - more recently occupied by KFC - is set to be brought back to life by the former owner of the critically acclaimed but short-lived Olde Vicarage Alehouse in Bilbrook.

Andy Evans, who also founded the Codsall Beer Festival, has been granted planning permission for his scheme to turn the building into a bar specialising in cask and craft ales.

He said work on the bar, which would create about 20 new jobs, was expected to begin next month, with a targeted opening date of August.

Planning permission has been granted subject to a second noise impact assessment been carried out, to ensure it has no undue impact on residents of neighbouring flats.

The building, which had been empty for more than five years, was named and shamed by Wolverhampton businessman Henry Carver in 2023, who produced a 'dirty dozen' of eyesore buildings which he said were letting the city down.

In its heyday in the 1970s and 80s, it was occupied by Mike Lloyd Music, one of the West Midlands best known record shops and concert promoters.

Mr Evans said he had originally hoped to open this month, but the planning process had taken longer than expected. 

"It's been a long grind, partly because the building has never been used as a pub or bar before," he said.

"We plan to have 24 different beers on, including real ales and craft beers.

"Our plan is to create a place that has the best choice of cask and craft ale in the area, not only by constantly rotating our beers but also having a wide selection."

The Olde Vicarage opened in July 2023, and was immediately recognised with a listing in the Campaign for Real Ale's Good Beer Guide.

But the bar, in a former vicarage, was forced to close in September 2024 - the same month that it was recognised in the beer guide - after Mr Evans failed to secure a long-term lease.