A DISUSED pub has been given a new lease of life with a £1m transformation into a new supermarket.
In less than four months, the Knave of Hearts (below), in Bloxwich near Walsall, has been turned into a convenience store by the Midcounties Co-operative.
This latest site, which ceased trading as a pub last autumn after briefly re-opening, joins the company’s stable of stores in Bloxwich’s Turnberry Estate and the neighbouring Pelsall district.
It has 2,500sq ft of retail space and an adjacent car park which has an area for motorbikes and cycles and 15 spaces, which the Co-op says it plans to expand by a further six in due course.
The firm said it received over 200 applications for the 23 jobs it has created, with former Knave of Hearts barman Jack Fletcher among the new recruits.
Store manager Martin Yeardley said: “We are delighted with our new store and we have had a very positive reaction from customers.
“We had people queuing up before we opened and our first day went very well.
“As a co-operative business, which is owned by its members, we are looking forward to building close links with the community we serve.”
Pic: The shop was officially opened by the Mayor of Walsall Cllr Gary Clarke and 12-year-old Fay Claybrook from Walsall Academy who was joined by Alice in Wonderland, mascot Cooper the Bear and Co-op staff.
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Store manager Martin Yeardley said: “We are delighted with our new store and we have had a very positive reaction from customers.
