PLANS have been submitted for a large new pub to open in the middle of New Ferry, with the location set to be inside the old Lloyds TSB building.

It’s good news for the community devastated by a huge explosion back in 2017, with the pub set to operate across two floors, and hoping to open until 2.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The currently-derelict building is on Bebington Road, with plans having been validated by the council this week.

The applicant’s name is Ray McCready, and the documents submitted to Wirral Council said: “Bebington Road and the immediate area has various public bars some of which have closed.

“There is history in the area that confirms that a public bar would be welcomed in this context. The proposal would bring back into life a redundant building providing a use for the local public.”

It’s also positive news for the Birkenhead community, as some expressed their anger earlier this week that the Dell in nearby Prenton, which opened in the 1960s, looks likely to be demolished for 28 affordable housing units and a car park.

It’s not yet known what the name of the new pub, which was most recently a community centre, will be, but according to the plans, it will cater for a maximum of 100 people.

It will have a maximum of two deliveries per week, with the proposed opening hours 9am until 11.30pm Sunday to Thursday, and until 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, employing at least two full-time members of staff.

The building spans two floors, and includes a large open-plan lounge area, with a pool room and office.

Describing the work that will be done to the building, the application penned by agent Evolve Architects said: “Minimal works will be undertaken to the external building. The owner will simply remove the opaque film to the windows to allow good daylight into the internal spaces. Opaque film will also be applied to rear windows at ground floor level for privacy.

“The majority of the internal spaces will remain as existing. A small stud wall will be removed within lounge area, a wall within the Pool room will be removed, new bar installed, door removed to the rear area adjacent to the disabled WC, new opaque film applied to rear windows.”