Wetherspoons takes over town centre hotel

ONE of West Somerset’s best-known hotels has been bought by pub chain J D Wetherspoon as part of a £5 million investment by the national group.
The Wellington Hotel (pictured), in Minehead, will now be converted to the Wetherspoons brand and should be reopened in early December, time for the run-up to Christmas.
The hotel freehold, which includes a nightclub, was sold by owner Barry Richards for an undisclosed fee, although the asking price had been in excess of £2 million.
The three-storey building has 25 bedrooms, two public bars, a karaoke bar, and a 100-cover restaurant.
There is also a separate apartment and a manager’s flat which could be converted into further letting bedrooms.
Mr Richards, who also owns the Beach Hotel and the Queen’s Head, in Minehead, and the Masons Arms, in Williton, has run the Wellington Hotel for 23 years but now wants to concentrate on oversees interests.
The sale was handled by Michael Easton, of Christie and Co, Exeter, who said: “The Wellington Hotel is a well-organised and highly profitable business, and is particularly well supported by the local community.
“A Wetherspoons outlet is perfect for the location, and I am sure it will be a benefit to the town.”
Wetherspoons is also opening new premises in Bodmin, Doncaster, Oldham, and Sutton, and creating around 200 news jobs, including those in Minehead.
The chain has more than 700 pubs and 17,000 employees nationwide.
Its founder, Tim Martin, lives near Exeter.

Teenagers face manslaughter charges after Minehead attack man dies

TWO of three teenagers arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a Minehead man in a street fight at the weekend were appearing in court today, Tuesday, January 22.
Nineteen-year-old Sean Wylds, of Minehead, and a 16-year-old youth who cannot be named because the law protects the identity of those under 18 years, were facing reduced charges of manslaughter as they appeared before magistrates in Taunton.
They had been held in custody at Minehead Police Station since Monday, when 36-year-old Tim Chilcott (pictured) died from injuries he received in the incident.
A third youth, aged 18 years, was also held in custody but was later released on police bail pending furter inquiries.
Mr Chilcott suffered serious head injuries in an attack which was thought to have started outside Minehead's Wellington Hotel and then continued through The Parade and into Blenheim Road, where he collapsed unconscious at about 1 am on Sunday.
He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, where he was put on a life support machine, but he died at mid-day on Monday.
Mr Chilcott, who was a self-employed gardener, lived in the Periton area of Minehead. His parents live in Hillview Close, Minehead.
A Home Office pathologist was due later today to carry out a post mortem on Mr Chilcott at Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, to determine how he died.

Murdered man was Minehead gardener

THE man murdered in a Minehead street brawl at the weekend was has been revealed as 36-year-old Tim Chilcott (pictured).
Mr Chilcott, who was a self-employed gardener, lived in the Periton area of the town.
His parents, Fred and Sylvia Chiclott, live in Hillview Close, Minehead.
Mr Chilcott, who was single, also had a brother, Kevin, and a sister, Heather.
He is thought to have been stabbed during a fight in the early hours of Sunday, January 20, which started in Wellington Square and continued into The Parade and into Blenheim Road, where he collapsed with serious head injuries.
Mr Chilcott was kept on a life support machine in Musgrove Park Hospital, where he died at about mid-day today (Monday).
Detectives investigating his murder have now arrested three teenagers on suspicion of Mr Chilcott’s murder.
The trio, aged 19, 18, and 16 years, were taken into custody at Minehead Police Station.
An appeal for witnesses who may have been in and around the Blenheim Road or town centre area shortly after midnight on Sunday has been made by the police.
They especially want to talk to anybody who may have left the Wellington Hotel near the time of the incident or may have spoken to the occupants of a dark coloured, three-door car around Wellington Square shortly afterwards.
Anybody who can help is asked to contact Taunton CID on 0845-4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.
Det Chief Insp Martyn Triggol, who is leading the inquiry has reassured residents that the murder was an isolated incident and that Minehead generally was a safe place in which to live.

Teenagers arrested on Minehead murder charges

THREE teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a man in Minehead during a street brawl in the early hours of yesterday, Sunday, January 20.
The trio, aged 19, 18, and 16 years were taken into custody in Minehead Police Station today (pictured).
The man, aged 36, died from his injuries in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, at about mid-day today.
He had been found unconscious at about 1 am on Sunday in Blenheim Road, Minehead, and was believed to have been stabbed during a fight which started in Wellington Square and continued into The Parade and into Blenheim Road, where he collapsed.
He suffered head injuries which resulted in him being put onto a life support machine in hospital.
Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have been in and around the Blenheim Road or The Avenue area of Minehead shortly after midnight on Sunday to come forward.
Det Chief Inspector Martyn Triggol said: “Although we have three people in custody, I am very keen to speak to anybody who may have been in the area or might have come out of the Wellington public house near the time of the incident.
“We are also keen to trace people who may have spoken to the occupants of a dark coloured, three-door car around Wellington Square shortly after the incident.”
Police are also reassuring residents that the murder was an isolated incident and the police need the community’s assistance to help the investigation.
Det Chief Insp Triggol said: “We realise that incidents like this shock what is a tight knit community in Minehead.
“Incidents like this are very rare, but I would appeal for anybody who has any information to help inquiries, however small, to come forward and speak to police.
“Minehead remains a very safe place, but the community can help us best by telling us what they might have witnessed and seen on Sunday morning.”
Anybody who can help is asked to contact Taunton CID on 0845 4567000 or Criemstoppers on 0800 555111.