A new Wetherspoon pub is a welcome addition to Marlow's pricey restaurant and pub scene, says the town council leader.

The Grand Assembly will open at the top of Marlow High Street on Tuesday, September 24, after a £3.5 million refurbishment of the former M&Co building in the town’s Market Square.

More than two years after the plans were first announced, and amid controversy over its suitability for the town – which some have dubbed ‘too posh’ for the pub chain – manager Rachel Turner said she was confident it would be “a great addition” to the area this week.

And it appears that the leader of Marlow Town Council, Chris Funnell, agrees – telling the BBC that while the new arrival had “got our residents talking”, he believed it would “bring jobs, increase foot traffic and offer more affordable social spaces” for locals.

Adding: “Personally, I welcome the choice it offers during tough times and commend any business willing to make this level of investment.”

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JD Wetherspoon also shed some light on the inspiration behind the new branch’s name this week – paying tribute to assemblies held by the upper social classes in Market Square during the 18th and 19th centuries – and teased Marlow-inspired interior decorations including homages to the site’s history as an ironmonger, the nearby River Thames and Frankenstein author Mary Shelley.

The Grand Assembly will be open between 8am and midnight from Sunday to Thursday, with alcohol served until 11:30pm, and from 8 am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, with alcohol served until 12:30am.

Food will be available until 11pm everyday, with family dining until 10pm.