Wetherspoon Southport hotel: CGI reveals £5m Merseyside scheme 2026

Key Points

• CGI visuals of the first JD Wetherspoon hotel in Southport have been launched by the chain, making it the first hotel in Merseyside.
• This includes the conversion of the vacant upstairs floor of the Sir Henry Segrave bar on Lord Street into 29 en-suite hotel rooms.
• There is an investment of £5 million in the central Southport town project.
• Planning consent was received in 2024, followed by additional plans for improved outdoor space and accessibility.
• According to JH Architects, the design would maintain the 19th-century architectural characteristics of the building while enhancing the facilities of the customers and biodiversity.
• “Eddie Gershon, spokesman of Wetherspoon” added that the hotel would be of advantage to the pub, the town, customers and the staff members.
• The hotel is situated just 10 minutes away from the beach and it is associated with the Marine Lake Events Centre development project.

Southport (Liverpool standard) September 03, 2026 – JD Wetherspoon has unveiled the first computer-generated imagery (CGI) showing how its new Southport hotel is expected to look, marking the pub chain’s first hotel development in Merseyside. The company is transforming the vacant upper floors of its Sir Henry Segrave venue on Lord Street into 29 en-suite guest rooms, backed by a £5 million investment in the town centre.

As reported by the Liverpool Echo, the project builds on planning permission granted in 2024 and includes alterations to the ground-floor pub to create a hotel reception, extend the kitchen area and carry out refurbishments. The hotel rooms will be housed within the same historic building as the bar, which is one of the busiest Wetherspoon venues in the region and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

How will the Wetherspoon Southport hotel look and operate?

The CGI visuals released by Wetherspoon show how the exterior of the Sir Henry Segrave building will largely remain untouched, in line with commitments to preserve its 19th-century heritage character. JH Architects, which is leading the design, has stated that only limited alterations are planned, primarily to create additional fire exits and a new entrance for the hotel.

Inside, the upper floors will be converted into 29 en-suite rooms, with a hotel reception and upgraded kitchen facilities on the ground floor. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told the Liverpool Echo: “Wetherspoon is always keen to add to the facilities for customers at its pubs. We aim to redevelop the existing pub and add a 29-bedroom hotel, which we believe will be a great benefit to the pub, the town, customers and staff.”

Rooms at Wetherspoon hotels elsewhere in the UK and Ireland typically cost between £60 and £80 per night, although prices can vary depending on how far in advance guests book. There are currently 55 Wetherspoon hotels across the UK and Ireland.

What new outdoor and accessibility plans have been submitted?

Alongside the hotel conversion, Wetherspoon has submitted further plans to Sefton Council to improve the existing grass verge at the front of the pub by turning it into an outdoor dining area. According to the Liverpool Echo, the proposal includes free-standing furniture, planters and landscaping to create a formal external customer space.

JH Architects said the scheme aims to “create and formalise an external customer area with landscaping and accessibility improvements together with the refurbishment and conversion of the upper floors to provide hotel accommodation”. The architects added that the design keeps the existing mature tree on site and introduces new planting beds and planters to improve visual amenity and biodiversity within the Lord Street Conservation Area.

Accessibility is a key part of the proposal, with ground-floor alterations designed to provide step-free and inclusive access for all customers, including wheelchair users. The external terrace will be safely enclosed and designed in consultation with Green Sefton and the Highways Authority, with no loss of public access or highway land.

Why is the Wetherspoon Southport hotel significant for the town?

The £5 million investment is being positioned as a major contribution to Southport’s town centre regeneration and visitor economy. JH Architects stated that the project “represents a £5 million investment in Southport town centre delivering high-quality hotel accommodation and improved hospitality facilities”.

The architects added that the scheme “will support the town’s visitor economy, especially in anticipation of the Marine Lake Events Centre development, while creating and retaining local jobs during construction and operation”. The building sits on Lord Street, a key conservation area, and the design approach has been developed to respect the character and setting of the street, with materials, scale and detailing consistent with the conservation area.

The Sir Henry Segrave pub is named after the Southport-born world famous racing driver, who in 1926 raised the land-speed record to 152mph in his Sunbeam Ladybird on Southport’s Birkdale Sands. The venue’s 30th anniversary was celebrated last September, underlining its status as a local landmark.

What have planners and architects said about heritage and biodiversity?

JH Architects emphasised that the proposals are designed to be reversible and to protect heritage assets while contributing to Sefton Council’s objectives for regeneration and visitor economy growth in Southport. The submission follows earlier planning approvals for works to the property, which established the principle of improvements to enhance customer facilities.

On biodiversity, the architects noted that although the new lawn will replace an existing grassed area, the scheme will still achieve a positive biodiversity outcome through measures including the retention and protection of the mature tree, new planting with nectar-rich and native species, and opportunities for small-scale habitat features such as bird boxes and pollinator-friendly species.

All external furniture, surfacing and boundaries will be high quality and in keeping with the character of the conservation area, according to the planning statement cited by the Liverpool Echo. The architects concluded that the proposed works “form part of a major investment in a key heritage asset and the wider Southport town centre” and deliver “significant public benefits including economic, heritage and accessibility improvements”.

Background to the Wetherspoon Southport hotel development

The Wetherspoon Southport hotel scheme originates from planning permission granted in 2024 for the conversion of the upper floors of the Sir Henry Segrave venue. The building, which houses one of the chain’s busiest regional pubs, had vacant upper floors that Wetherspoon identified as suitable for hotel use.

The project aligns with Wetherspoon’s wider estate strategy, which includes operating 55 hotels across the UK and Ireland alongside its pub portfolio. In Southport, the hotel is one of several hospitality-led developments on Lord Street, including a separate scheme to create a spa theatre hotel in the former Garrick Building.

Further plans submitted in 2026 focus on enhancing the outdoor public realm and accessibility, reflecting ongoing dialogue with Sefton Council, Green Sefton and the Highways Authority. The timing of the hotel’s development coincides with anticipation around the Marine Lake Events Centre, which local stakeholders expect to boost visitor numbers to the town.

Prediction: how could the Wetherspoon Southport hotel affect local audiences?

If the Wetherspoon Southport hotel proceeds as planned, the most direct impact is likely to be on Southport’s visitor economy, with an additional 29 rooms adding capacity for tourists, event-goers and business travellers. Local residents and businesses on Lord Street may see increased footfall, particularly if the outdoor dining area becomes a popular space and if the hotel attracts guests attending events at the Marine Lake Events Centre.

For hospitality workers, the development could support job creation during construction and ongoing roles in hotel and pub operations, although the scale of employment will depend on occupancy levels and seasonal demand. For budget-conscious travellers, the presence of a Wetherspoon-branded hotel with typical room rates in the £60–£80 range may provide an affordable accommodation option close to the beach and town centre.

From a planning and heritage perspective, the project sets a precedent for adapting historic high-street buildings for mixed-use hospitality, balancing conservation requirements with modern accessibility and biodiversity considerations. How this affects future developments on Lord Street will depend on the performance of the hotel and the broader trajectory of Southport’s regeneration.