A former well-known pub building could be converted into shops
JD Wetherspoon pub The Pear Tree in Alcester Road South, Kings Heath will close in late November 2021(Image: Google Maps)
A former city pub could be given a new lease of life as shops.
A planning application has been lodged to change the building occupied by the former Pear Tree pub into retail units.
The popular Wetherspoon’s venue in the heart of Alcester Road South, Kings Heath shopping centre, closed in late 2021 after the lease ran out.
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The initial plan is light on details but the site would be split into two units, complete with new shopfront.
It is not yet known what kind of businesses will occupy the sites.
The Pear Tree in Kings Heath(Image: Google Maps)
Several local organisations, councillors and MP Tahir Ali have been consulted about the proposal.
These include the Walkers Heath & District Residents Association, Pebble Mill & South Edgbaston Community Group, Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum and the Kings Heath BID.
Wetherspoon said back in 2021 that it was not uncommon for the company to close pubs when leases ran out, such as The Assembly Rooms on Poplar Road in Solihull.
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A spokesman said: “Wetherspoon has always invested when others haven’t and will always look for smaller towns and then invest very, very heavily like we are doing with The Navigation Inn in Kings Norton ready for it to open before Christmas.”
The chain said the staff at The Pear Tree were being offered jobs elsewhere.
Kings Heath resident and music promoter Dave Travis said although some residents in the area would ‘not be supportive of Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin’ the pub did have ‘its own clientele’.
The application is due to go before council planners in the near future.