West Wing of Hawthorns pub could be demolished to make way for drive-through coffee shop

Council officers from Sandwell Council have already approved plans to demolish the original south wing and east wing of the Grade II listed Hawthorns pub, which were completed in 1903.

It has now been proposed that the west wing also be demolished.

The pub was once the favoured watering hole for hundreds of Albion fans until it closed in 2009.

The fireplace in the west wing is believed to be the only internal feature of heritage interest in the section of the building and under new plans submitted to Sandwell Council it will be relocated to an original chimney breast location.

The wing was added to the early-Victorian era pub in the early 20th century and is not believed to be of any historical or architectural interest.

A heritage statement from historic environment consultant David Burton-Pye said: "The west and east wings are not mentioned in the 1987 list description.

"It is generally accepted that such descriptions are not definitive and that the lack of inclusion or reference to particular items does not indicate that they are of no interest.

"However the listing does make specific reference to the 'symmetrical composition of the five bays' and it is therefore reasonable to conclude that the inspector did not consider the wings to have any particular merit."

The demolition work is taking place to make way for plans put forward by West Bromwich Albion to transform the 19th century building into a drive-through coffee shop.

The club are currently in talks with a firm about developing the site, although they have yet to reveal the name of the company.

The club bought The Hawthorns pub, formerly The Hawthorns Hotel, on Birmingham Road, four years ago after it had fallen into disrepair and been a target for vandals since its closure.

In 2011 fans suggested turning The Hawthorns public house into an archive celebrating the side's history. At the time the club said it would consider the plans, but a formal application was never submitted.

Alan Cleverley, secretary of the Albion Supporters club and a former patron of The Hawthorns, said: "The building is not the kind of introduction we want to give to fans when they approach the ground.

"It doesn't give a good representation of the club or Sandwell as an area.

"In my opinion because it's been an eyesore for the last couple of years anything is an improvement."