A WARDLE pub in danger of closing has received a shot in the arm after plans to build a restaurant extension were approved.

JW Lees, owners of The Halfway House on Wardle Road, hope the expansion will breathe new life into the flagging pub.

Last year an application to build a two-storey extension which could have catered for about 120 customers was knocked back because it encroached onto the green belt and because of fears of increased noise and disruption.

As the Observer reported at the time, the brewery said the rejection put the future of the pub in ‘real doubt’.

Now scaled-down plans to redesign the interior into a 50 cover eating area and create new toilets, a kitchen area and an exterior decked patio have been passed.

But the refurbishment will mean the loss of the traditional bar area.

JW Lees pub operation director Mark Welch said the brewery was now looking for a tenant to take over.

He added: “We have had to significantly downscale our plans which is disappointing but we wanted to go ahead because we believed the pub had a future.

“Before we were looking to create a 90 cover dining area with a locals bar as well.

“But unfortunately because we have had to reduce the size of the extension we have had to remove the bar because there just wasn’t space to make it financially viable.“

About five new jobs will be created.

The move has been welcomed by community group the Wardle Society.

Jane Rickards, of the Society, said: “We are very pleased that the application has been passed, it will be a real asset to the community.

“It will bring people into the village and will be used by people visiting Watergrove reservoir.”