A Wolverhampton pub with a troubled past, but a bright present as a match venue and plans for the future

It can be difficult for a pub with a troubled past to shake it off and become a trusted place where you can enjoy a warm welcome, a cold pint, a hot meal and feel at home. comfortable and safe.

If the public perception of such a pub is that of a place that is unwelcoming, unsafe or has a bad reputation, then it may be difficult to overturn this image and become a place full of good humor and good beer .

The Leaping Wolf on Waterloo Road in Wolverhampton is a good example of how to turn around a struggling pub, having been rescued from oblivion in 2014 and transformed into a prime location for Wolves matches, located directly opposite Molineux Stadium .

Originally built as a private residence called Kettering Villa, in 1865 it became the Red Roofs Hotel in the 1940s and then, after the hotel closed in 1982, it was opened as the Goalpost by Shrewsbury and Wem Ales.

It was renamed Lounge 107 in 2004, but in 2014 it was threatened with demolition to serve as a service station for ASDA opposite.

However, the application for planning permission was refused and it remained open until July 2018 and then, after being closed for six months, it underwent a complete refurbishment costing around £350,000 and reopened end of 2018.

Owned by Punch Pubs, it has been run for two years by Nathan Davies and Daniel Williams. Operations director Daniel said when they arrived they could see the potential of the venue due to its proximity to Molineux, but also as a pub outside of match days.

He said: “When Punch asked us to take over we came in and could see the potential as it’s not just on match days when this pub is packed but there are also conferences in Molineux and people who go shopping and, also, students who live at the end of the road.

“When we took over, a lot of people who aren’t business partners and don’t drink here said we’d only be busy on game days, but I think we can be busy either way, provided we put do things and do interactive things.

“What people can expect when they come in here is friendly service, a clean, warm pub and everything a pub should be, from good drinks to sports on TV.”

The pub has a welcoming atmosphere upon entry and is a venue for both drinkers and dog lovers, with water bowls on the floor for dogs to quench their thirst.

In terms of drinks, the pub has a decent selection of regular and premium lagers, including Carling, Cruzcampo, Heineken and Birra Moretti, as well as pub standards such as John Smiths, Fosters and Strongbow.

Mr Williams said the average price of a pint was £2.65, making it one of the cheapest pubs in Wolverhampton, with a single spirit costing £1.99 and a double £1 plus, plus a range of cocktails and other specialties. drinks to try.

He also said the pub had a good selection of food based on simplicity and offering something for everyone.

He said: “We make food every day until 7pm, with basic, simple things like fish and chips and chicken baskets.

“For me the food has to be simple and chicken based because of the community we live in. So it’s very British food and we cater to the tastes of the local people.”

Mr Williams said the pub was very much his and Nathan’s home, calling on staff and local family.

He said: “It’s a great environment, it earns us a salary and we put on a great show when we have things like match days, which can be our biggest asset.

“What I love about it is that I have a degree in computer science and I realized that I hated sitting in front of a computer all day, so I much prefer being able to talk to people and have a conversation and in a pub, I love.”