Campaigners have described plans to demolish the historic Glegg Arms pub in Heswall as "disastrous" as a decision on its future is set to be made. The Wirral pub, which dates back to the 1840s, could be demolished if plans are approved next week, with the building replaced by hotel rooms as the neighbouring Premier Inn seeks to increase its room count.
Plans to replace pub with hotel rooms
Located on Chester Road in the west Wirral town, the pub became a Beefeater restaurant before closing in 2024. It now only serves hotel guests. Both Beefeater and Premier Inn are owned by Whitbread, which has submitted the planning application to Wirral Council. The plans would see the hotel have a net increase of 24 rooms, going from 87 to 111.
The application is set to be discussed by the council's planning committee on October 7. The item has been 'called-in' by local ward councillor Kathy Hodson, who has been campaigning alongside her fellow ward councillors and the Heswall Society for the façade of the historic pub to be preserved, with them having urged Whitbread to explore other options.
Petition against demolition
Cllr Andrew Hodson, fellow Heswall councillor and husband of Cllr Kathy Hodson, previously told the ECHO: "There is a lot of history attached to this building, and it would be disastrous to let it be demolished."
A council report into the plans explains that over 600 people have signed a petition asking for the application to be refused over fears that the plans will not preserve the historic façade.
Responding to the petition, a spokesperson for Whitbread previously said: "Over the past six months we have worked closely with Wirral Council’s planning and heritage teams and carefully explored whether the existing building could be converted and retained. Unfortunately, due to a range of structural and design constraints, it isn’t possible to do this in a way that secures a deliverable, high-quality hotel that meets the expectations of Premier Inn customers."
"Our reworked plans have been shaped through that engagement, and we have worked hard to retain the essence of the Glegg Arms in our new designs. Our plans will deliver a high-quality development that helps us meet strong demand for hotel rooms in Heswall, supporting local jobs and delivering investment in the area, and we will continue to work closely and openly with the council as they consider the plans."
