Well well well - Heswall's new Spoons pub will have an interesting name

Construction of the new Wetherspoon pub is underway at 1-5 The Mount in Heswall, extending and refurbishing the site formerly occupied by the ill-fated Exchange Bar.

For pub and hotel group JD Wetherspoon, the new branch represents a potential two million pound investment, and the company says it will create 50 jobs.

Extending the property will increase internal space from 650 square metres to 900 and thus make greater use of the available land. This includes room for a large kitchen which assumes high demand for the Wetherspoon food offer.

During the planning and licensing process, some anxieties about parking and noise were expressed, but Council officers said the site is in a town centre and the nearest residential property is 30 metres distant.

When asked, "Why Heswall?", a spokesperson for Wetherspoon said: "We've enjoyed great success with pubs in the region and are always keen to open in areas where Wetherspoon is currently not located.

"The hospitality industry is the heartbeat of society. People enjoy going to pubs and will continue to do so once life gets back to normal."

The pub chain had wanted to open until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 00.30am for the rest of the week, but this was opposed by many in Heswall.

For instance, The Heswall Society, the residents' group with around 450 members, was not in favour.

Speaking early last year, its planning officer Roger Lane said: "There are many residential properties very close by, and we believe from a protracted history of noise issues that this would affect them quite badly."

The pub chain subsequently applied for and secured shorter opening hours, between 9am and 11.30pm, with alcohol to be served until 11pm.

Signs on the construction site reveal that the new Spoons is scheduled to open in Summer, and also the boozer's name - The Prense Well.

I might as well be honest: it meant absolutely nothing to me; but a quick Google revealed all. I am indebted to local historian Jenny McRonald, who has written about the old wells of Heswall for OldWirral.com.

"Over the years there has been much debate as to the origins of the name Heswall. Many suggestions have been made and Heswall has had different names in the past. However, whatever the reason for the name, we do know that Heswall or Eswelle has had many wells.

"Our native sandstone is soft and easy to fracture to make wells. The village had very little running water and the wells which were recorded were all near clusters of farms and cottages. Of the many wells that existed in the area, few can be seen today, but they were good sources of water in their time for men and beasts alike.

"The site of Penns or Prense Well can be found in Telegraph Road under the railings round the tree outside the block of shops that includes Linghams. The cottages which once stood where the shops are now, shared the same name. It seems to be one of the main wells for the top village; one wonders how far people travelled for their water."

So there you have it. Heswall's soon to be opened brand new watering hole has been rather cleverly named after…a very old watering hole.