A former Wetherspoons establishment situated in Sutton is being offered for lease at an annual rate of £55,000, despite having secured planning authorization to undergo substantial conversion into residential apartments, according to our sister publication London Now.

The long-unoccupied drinking establishment, known as The Grapes and located on Sutton High Street, is being promoted as a “prominent corner unit” with possibilities for continued operation as a public house.

The marketing materials emphasize its proximity to the St Nicholas Centre and Asda car parks, as reported by London Now, where additional information about the property is available.

The asking price exceeds £55,000 per year, excluding additional occupational expenses, for the 2,040 square foot space.

The selected tenant will negotiate a fresh lease for a duration to be determined.

The Grapes, constructed during the Victorian period, initially served as both a pub and hotel.

It operated as a Whitbread establishment for an extended period and was previously a Berni Inn.

Nevertheless, the pub ceased operations on August 5, 2018, and has remained closed since that date.

A planning proposal was filed in November 2019 and later granted permission to convert this three-storey structure into a partially three-, four-, and five-storey high-rise development.

The new project involves the construction of 25 self-contained residences.

These will consist of 16 one-bedroom, four two-bedroom, and five three-bedroom units.

The upper floors and a portion of the ground floor of the pub have received approval for conversion to residential use.

On March 19, 2023, the High Street establishment was designated for long-term closure and has been available on the lease market since that time.

The business rates will undergo reassessment once the property is occupied.