Work starts on £1.4m ‘Iron Ram’ pub project
THE VENUE WAS FORMERLY OWNED BY THE J D WETHERSPOON BRAND
WORK on a £1.4million upgrade to a Derby city centre pub building ahead of its reopening under a brand new name has started.
The Thomas Leaper, formerly owned by J D Wetherspoon, will be reopened by Amber Taverns later this year after planning permission was approved by Derby City Council.
Bosses say they want to open the pub soon ahead of the upcoming Euro 2024 championships – starting next month. It will feature new games areas and private karaoke booths.
The pub company at the start of the year asked the council whether it could make a number of internal changes to the four-storey building following its purchase of the Grade II listed venue last year.
The pub will be called ‘The Iron Ram,’ in acknowledgment of the pub’s location on Iron Gate and Derby County’s famous nickname. Scaffolding all over the building is currently in place and visible to passersby, indicating that works are in process.
Works include changes to several floors of the former Wetherspoon pub such as alterations to the ground, first and second floor “to improve functioning of trading areas and accommodation space”.
Planning documents state the female toilets on the ground floor will be removed and replaced with male toilets.
The existing male toilets will be
The public response and interaction has been very supportive. We are excited and looking forward to opening in Derby.
replaced with a seating area and games areas.
The layout of the first floor will change to create games areas and replace the kitchen with karaoke booth rooms, an office and communication room. The male and female toilets, as well as the cellar, will remain the same.
The second floor will be retained as accommodation for management staff. This will comprise three bedrooms, lounge, bathroom and a kitchen. The floor will also contain a storeroom. Changes will also include new signage externally.
Gary Roberts, operations director at Amber Taverns, said in March: “We are delighted that the relevant planning permissions have been granted. We are running with The Iron Ram (name) as the public response and interaction has been very supportive. We are excited and looking forward to opening in Derby.”
Derby City Council said the works would lead to “some harm” to the listed building but “the harm is considered to be less than substantial when weighed up against the public benefits of securing a viable use for this currently empty building”.