By Nick Griffiths

Last updated at 10:12, Friday, 01 February 2013

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is poised for a “heavy investment” in its two Carlisle city centre bars, with the building of a new beer garden and the revamp of another outdoor drinking area.

William Rufus pub

The company has been granted permission to create an outside terrace at the back of Botchergate bar the William Rufus.

A spokesman for the firm also told The Cumberland News it was set to redevelop the existing beer garden at the neighbouring Woodrow Wilson pub.

The plan will see the pub giant knock down the building that once housed the Platform 1 nightclub on Collier Lane, behind Botchergate, and turn it into an open air drinking space for the William Rufus.

Bosses say it should provide the bar, which is at the heart of the city’s main nightlife strip, with an extra attraction.

Company spokesman Eddie Gershon said the building behind the William Rufus had been bought and the beer garden could be “up and running by the summer”.

“It will be a big redevelopment,” said Mr Gershon. “We will knock down that building and build the beer garden on that site.

“It’s one of the busiest pubs in Carlisle and this will be a good addition to the pub.

“We will be looking to develop it in the coming months.”

The costs involved in both this and the redevelopment of the Woodrow Wilson beer garden have not been revealed.

But Mr Gershon added: “Wetherspoon, in all aspects of what it does, invests heavily to make sure it is of a high standard.”

Carlisle City Council granted permission for the beer garden even though the nearby Hallmark Hotel objected to an earlier planning application to create a beer garden on the site.

The building housing the former Platform 1 nightclub has been standing empty since 1993.

News of the new development comes just two weeks after it was revealed that a Brazilian restaurant is to open in Botchergate.

The former Cassa bar is to be transformed into Tropeiro, which will offer diners 20 different cuts of meat cooked barbecue style and carved at the table.

First published at 10:10, Friday, 01 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk