A well-known former restaurant on the A4174 dual carriageway near Emersons Green in Bristol is set to reopen as a Wetherspoon pub just in time for the festive season. The Beefeater, which has been a local landmark for years, will be transformed and reopened as ‘The Hollybush Seam’ on 3 December.
The Beefeater closed earlier this year, with speculation mounting that the Papas Group—known for Papas Fish and Chips and Wendy’s—would take over the site. This has now been confirmed by JD Wetherspoon, who revealed that the Papas Group will manage the new Wetherspoon pub.
‘The Hollybush Seam’ takes its name from a key coal seam from the historic Brandy Bottom Colliery, a scheduled monument nearby, reflecting the area’s heritage. According to Wetherspoon’s website, the pub will feature a beer garden, although details about the refurbishment and added amenities are still limited.
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This new pub is part of an exciting partnership between Wetherspoon and the family-run Papas Group, who have signed a franchise agreement to operate 15 pubs across the UK. Andrew Papas, director of the Papas Group, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, emphasizing a shared commitment to community revitalisation and creating welcoming social spaces beyond traditional high streets.
“The pubs we’re opening are community hubs where people live, work, and gather,” Papas said. “Our partnership with Wetherspoon is about breathing new life into these fantastic venues, creating jobs, and offering exceptional service and value.”
Previously, The Beefeater served as the main restaurant for the adjacent Premier Inn, which has since developed its own separate breakfast offerings. After the Beefeater’s closure, the Great British Pub Company briefly managed the premises. Interestingly, several of their other locations are also transitioning to Wetherspoon sites managed by the Papas Group in cities including Lincoln, Newcastle, Stockton, Bristol, and Barnsley.
This development marks a promising chapter for Emersons Green’s social scene, bringing a well-loved pub brand back into the heart of the community just in time for the holidays.