Work could begin on the new Heswall 'Spoons' within weeks of the pub chain's other boozers reopening fully.

The news formed part of an announcement today that Wetherspoon is set to invest an initial £145 million developing new pubs and upgrading existing venues - creating 2,000 new jobs in the process.

The company has a pipeline of 75 projects - 18 of which are new pubs and 57 significant extensions and upgrades to its existing 871 pubs.

The Heswall Spoons will occupy an extended version of the site currently home to the abandoned Exchange.

Once the 75 projects in the pipeline are completed, Wetherspoon anticipates investing £750 million to open 15 new pubs and enlarge 50 existing pubs each year for ten years.

This ten-year pub project will result in 20,000 new jobs.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin said: "Our immediate investment will provide work for architects, contractors and builders as well as result in 2,000 new jobs for staff in our pubs.

"We are geared up to start on the first projects within a few months.

"We are also committed to our long-term investment and job creation programme over the next decade."

However, Mr Martin added a caveat: "The investment is conditional on the UK opening back up again on a long-term basis, with no further lockdowns or the constant changing of rules."