BRYNMAWR and Blaenavon have been chosen as the next location for a new J D Wetherspoons pub.

Newport-based Hutchings & Thomas are fully retained to acquire sites for the pub owner and operator in south mid and west Wales. JD Wetherspoon, established in 1979, has some 696 outlets in the UK and is looking to boost that number further over the next three to five years.

The pub company often identifies quirky, redundant buildings to re-use as pubs such as banks, car showrooms, cinemas, post offices and theatres and has even been know to convert a funeral parlour. The conversions often act as catalyst to improvement of other premises in the vicinity and can serve to attract new people into the area.

One of the most recently opened JD Wetherspoon operations is the Bell Hanger in St Mary Street, Chepstow (pictured) which is the result of the sympathetic conversion of an historic, commercial building and yard.

Haydn Thomas, Director of Hutchings & Thomas, said JD Wetherspoon has a preference to acquire freeholds or long leaseholds with a trading area of between 4000 sq ft up to 10,000 sq ft. with additional back of house and beer gardens. They also consider existing stand alone pubs, on sites on approximately one acre, new builds or conversions.

Mr Thomas said, "Robert Carew Chaston, MD of Hutchings & Thomas, secured the first Wetherspoon in Wales, the John Wallace Linton, at Cambrian Road, Newport and has subsequently been involved with a number of openings in Wales. We have recently acquired properties in Barry, Abertillery, Chepstow and Haverfordwest and solicitors are instructed on potential sites in Caerphilly, Maesteg, Llandrindod Wells and Aberystwyth."