Independent business owners on Gloucester Road have shared mixed views on the proposed Wetherspoon pub.

The UK-wide chain is hoping to open a new branch at the top of the road, which is famed for its independent spirit, in between The Anchor and The Royal Oak.

Plans have been turned down once already and an application was recently withdrawn, but the group is likely to try again later this year.

Of the people we spoke to, the majority said they do not want the pub to open there, but a handful of others argued that it would provide a boost for the area.

The manager of the Tinto Lounge, owned by the Lounges group, said she is not worried about the arrival of the pub as the parent company's name is established enough in Bristol.

A Wetherspoon pub could open on Gloucester Road

These views were shared by the landlord of The Royal Oak, Neil Greenwood, who has managed the pub for 10 years.

However, he did say that a Wetherspoon would not be in keeping with the area.

Neil Greenwood, landlord of The Royal Oak

'Not in keeping with Gloucester Road'

"We don't mind a bit of competition but this is an independent street, and that's what really hurts me," he said.

"I think it would affect us less than it might affect others around here as this has been a pub for decades, but it would still affect us as any new competition would.

"I think 'Spoons are very aware of current trends and they know that trade is hard at the moment, so I think they might be biding their time before submitting another application.

"I'm sure it will look amazing when it opens and I'm sure that although nobody wants it here, it will be busy - but it's just not in keeping with Gloucester Road.

"I also worry that it might act as a catalyst for other big chains to open here, which would be awful."

It would be 'a shame'

Owners of The Deck Café

Given Wetherspoon's diverse offering, it isn't just nearby pubs which could potentially suffer as a result of its arrival.

The Deck Café, which specialises in authentic Hungarian food, opened exactly a year ago and has built up a solid reputation since then.

One of its owners, Dora Arany, said she thinks their business would be okay as their café is very different from Wetherspoon, but still doesn't want it to go ahead.

She said: "I've spoken to quite a few of our regulars who said they don't think it would affect us, which is reassuring.

"Obviously Wetherspoon sell breakfast and things like that, as we do, but we specialise in Hungarian cuisine so we're quite different, plus I don't think our regular customers are people who would tend to go to Wetherspoon, shall we say.

"So overall I don't think we would be that affected, but it's not really in keeping with the area so it would be a shame if it goes ahead."

Kate Dzilna, owner of the nearby Coffee Mine, which opened only six months ago, said she worries about her business if the pub opens and echoed the opinion that it is not needed on Gloucester Road.

Kate Dzilna is worried about her business

'Not the sort of environment you want in a family area'

Adam Tutton is the Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Rovers' Community Trust. He said that while it could be beneficial on a match day, he doesn't want to see it open either.

He said: "There's a lot of independent bars and cafés here and I think the reputation of Spoons is a bit of an all-day drinking hangout.

"At most 'Spoons pubs you see people with a pint in their hand at 10am, which isn't the sort of environment you want in a family area.

"In a way it could be positive on a match day with somewhere nearby that's cheap for fans to go, but overall it's not really for me.

"There are plenty of brilliant pubs which have been here for a long time which cater for the football crowd. We don't need another one."

Adam Tutton said he doesn't want the pub to open

In favour of Spoons

However, there are some people nearby who would welcome the proposed pub with open arms.

Mert Tascakar works at the family-run Turkish restaurant, Pasha, which is located almost directly opposite the site.

He said: "I think it would be good for our business as it would attract more people to the area.

"At the moment most of our customers are Muslim, but if it opens we'll get more English people trying our Turkish food. We don't do any old kebabs here, we do proper traditional Turkish kebabs with real meat.

"But I don't think it will be opening anytime soon to be honest. There's a picture up but it looks like it's going to take a long time for it to finally happen."

Mert Tascakar works at the family-run Turkish restaurant, Pasha

Local builder Fred Reynolds, of Horfield Common, is also in favour of the pub.

"A Wetherspoon is better than a derelict building and in general Spoons pubs are very clean and their food is very valuable," he said.

"You don't see drunks spilling out of Spoons pubs and that building has been hanging around waiting for something to happen to it for about 20 years.

"This part of Gloucester Road has been a bit neglected for some time - everything has been focused at the lower end.

"It's a bit dead up here, so I think Wetherspoon would breathe some much-needed life into the area."