It’s surely news worth raising a glass to?
Changes could be coming to an unloved corner of Farnham town centre with an eyesore and nightspot on East Street both in line for a makeover.
The Woolmead site has gone on the market with a bid for the rubble-strewn patch expected early next year.
Savills are marketing the eyesore on behalf of Homes England with developers having until 1pm on January 7 to bid for the site previously acquired by Berkeley Homes.
A deal would surely bring the end to saga which began with the demolition of the 1960s shopping complex in 2018 and was followed with a flurry of unfulfilled developments.
And there could be change on the other side of the road as Wethersoons has struck a deal to move into the unit currently occupied by the Slug and Lettuce.
No opening date has been confirmed, but their arrival could have positive ramifications for Brightwells Yard given the influx of drinkers the chain is likely to attract.
We’ve been here before, of course. Numerous schemes for the former never came to fruition, with the site remaining an ugly gaping hole in the heart of the town.
It was recently touted as a site for student accommodation but government quango Homes England has instructed Savills to market the site, with would-be developers having until 1pm on January 7 to make their bids.
Don’t expect anything to pop up on soon, though, as the winning bidder will still need planning permission for any prospective scheme.
More definitive is Wetherspoons’ purchase of the Slug and Lettuce site. The future of the nightspot has looked uncertain ever since owners Stonegate announced its growing debt problems early this year.
Wetherspoons hasn’t confirmed an opening date but Eddie Gershon, spokesperson for the chain, confirmed the rumour on Monday.
He said: “We can confirm that JD Wetherspoon has exchanged to purchase the (Slug and Lettuce) site in East Street and the company is looking forward to opening the new pub.”
He added: “Wetherspoon is confident that its new pub will be an asset to the town.”
The news sparked a lively debate on the Herald website with some raising glasses and other eyebrows at the news.
Some feel the prospect of an affordable, no-frills pub offering value for money is a welcome change for a town known for its more upscale establishments.
But not everyone is convinced it will be a good fit, with some also querying why they opted for an occupied unit in East Street instead of an empty one in Brightwells Yard.