Pub chain set to take over ‘oldest’ newspaper’s office

Story of our time. Office of the oldest local newspaper in Britain, to become a Weatherspoon pub. pic.twitter.com/eLUP1Dek97

— Mike Sassi (@MikeSassi) December 2, 2013

Axegrinder has thought it to be every journalist's dream to have their office transformed into a pub selling cheap beer.

But for the unfortuante souls at the Rutland and Stamford Mercury based in Linconshire news that JD Wetherspoons were moving in was soon tempered by the revelation that they were moving out.

The Rutland and Stamford Mercury’s office in Linconshire was leased by owners Johnston Press who decided not to renew the contract when it expired earlier this year.

The lease has been taken over by pub giant JD Wetherspoons who want to spend £1 million in a massive revamp of the building.

The company has submitted a planning application to the local authority and claim the new venue could bring 50 new jobs to Stamford.

However, some locals have objected to attempts to allow the pub to stay open late on weekends.

The Stamford Mercury claims to be the UK’s oldest newspaper having been first printed in the late 1600s. The move to a new office has not been universally welcomed unless members of staff are particularlyl enthused by the aesthetics of electricty pylons.

Stamford is known as a very picturesque town but this is the view from our new office. pic.twitter.com/JxtrdydcPi

— Aaron Frank (@Mercury_Aaron) November 22, 2013