A NATIONAL pub chain in the process of buying a derelict Nailsea inn is to spend about �1million renovating it, creating 40 jobs.

JD Wetherspoon has exchanged contracts for The Glasshouse, at Crown Glass Place, currently owned by Nailsea Unit Trust, landlords of the town centre, who reclaimed the lease when the pub closed around a year ago.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said: “The owner is currently undertaking some works on the building.

“Once this is dealt with Wetherspoon will be in a position to complete on the site.

“At present it has exchanged, but not completed.

“There are, as yet, no on-site or opening dates, however, Wetherspoon is keen to open a pub in Nailsea and all is moving in the right direction.”

Signage is in place for the pub to be renamed The Mizzymead, which people in the town say will be confusing as there is already a social club with the name in Mizzymead Rise.

However the company has remained tight-lipped saying they have not yet decided on a name.

Nailsea mum Lorraine Spiller said: “I think the name is rubbish as there is already a Mizzymead so it makes no sense naming it that.”

Life-long Nailsea resident Becky Charrison said: “Us oldies will always refer to it as The Glass so whatever else they call it, it will always be that to us.

“Look at The Queen’s Head – it’s had quite a few name changes over the years and now it has gone back to being The Queen’s again.

“Us Nailsea people like what we know and know what we like.

“It will be interesting to see what Wetherspoons do with the pub though.”

Meanwhile planning permission has been sought to replace an extractor fan in the kitchen, add a fenced-in air conditioning unit on the flat roof and a chimney put in.

Work on extending the property and outside alterations, to include new fascias and beer garden, has already begun.

The Glasshouse was once one of Nailsea’s most popular nightspots and a late licence meant it could stay open until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Neighbours have expressed concerns that late night rowdy behaviour would return to the area once the pub has re-opened.

Others have said it would improve the look of the town centre.

Town centre letting agent Ian Thompson said: “I think it will be superb to get a national chain in there.

“It’s a good solution for that location, we’re really pleased.”

Town clerk Ian Morrell said: “I know some residents are unhappy and worried about the noise it will create again but I think it’s much better to have a Wetherspoon pub than the old Glasshouse.

“We don’t want any premises empty, especially in that part of town where it is important to get the footfall.”

JD Wetherspoon already has two pubs in North Somerset - The Dragon and newly-opened Cabot Court Hotel, both in Weston.