Wiltshire Wetherspoon pub to shut for three months for £2m refurb

The Trowbridge pub’s last day of trading will be Saturday, March 9 with work starting on Monday, March 11.

The major refurbishment is expected to take just over 12 weeks and the Albany Palace is scheduled to re-open on Tuesday, June 11.

A notice on the Park Road pub door says: “Due to major refurbishment, our last trading day will be Saturday, 9th March 2024.

“We will be closed for approximately three months and are expecting to re-open mid-June 2024.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience during this time.

“We look forward to welcoming you back!”

The existing staff will be relocating to Wetherspoon pubs in Bath, Chippenham, Swindon (The Dockle), Melksham and Warminster while the work takes place.

Wetherspoon submitted plans to Wiltshire Council in August 2022 to change the use of Park House next to the Albany Palace from offices to a public house.

The company plans to refurbish the Albany Palace as well as extend it into the Park House offices next door.

The area outside Park House will be turned into a beer garden seating 66 people. Photo: Trevor Porter 70209-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)

In a development that could create 30 new jobs, the pub chain also wants to build a boundary wall in front of Park House and the beer garden.

The refurbishment will mean the Albany Palace will be able to seat 232 people who wish to eat inside instead of 150 at present – an increase of 82.  It will seat 66 people in the new 753 sq ft beer garden.

 Trowbridge Town Council leader Stewart Palmen, who is the local ward councillor, said: “I am pleased that Wetherspoons is showing confidence in Trowbridge and are actively taking part of the regeneration of the town centre by upgrading their Albany Palace property and I will be popping in for a pint as soon it reopens.”

Town councillor Antonio Piazza said: “I think any prospect of private-sector investment is exciting and, hopefully, further job creation in Trowbridge will come as a result, which is definitely needed at this time.

An impression of what the new bar area could look like once the Albany Palace refurbishment is completed. (Image: Wetherspoon)

“This private-sector project could serve to bridge the town centre's shops and Town Hall to our People's Park and also to St Stephen's Place with the cinema and restaurants.

“Overall, this is a brilliant £2m initiative by a private-sector business that, at the very least, enhances the look of our town and, at the very most, provides a boost to the local economy and employs people.”

During the refurbishment, the pub’s internal customer area will be extended from 3,529 square feet to 3,945 sq.ft. by removing the central bar servery.

This will be relocated to the right-hand wall and will include a new wash-up facility with cooled bottle to rear of the bar servery to facilitate back-fed bottle cabinets and wines and spirit store behind the glass wash.

The external smoking area will be removed and a single-stepped raised floor and new shopfront installed to create the beer garden.

An impression of what the new bar area could look like once the Albany Palace refurbishment is completed. (Image: Wetherspoon)

On the first floor of the existing pub, Wetherspoon will provide staff accommodation, including a staff room, toilet and changing facilities.

The pub will also see its kitchen upgraded to include an external walk-in freezer and a new coffee station for the existing customer area.

The Albany Palace will be fully redecorated and new carpets fitted throughout but all existing appliances will be retained and supplemented with new equipment.

Flat roofs will get new roof coverings, together with associated works such as ceilings removed and re-instated and re-wired. 

The pub’s existing toilets will be refurbished and the arched windows at the rear will be repaired or replaced.