Campaigners want Shire Hall to be an arts complex instead

The town's civic society believes the Shire Hall, which was built in 1837, should be a tourist and arts centre.

But Pembrokeshire Council, which owns the building, is set to sell it to the national pub chain JD Wetherspoon.

The company has been invited to give a detailed presentation on how it plans to redevelop the hall which has been empty since the court moved last June.

We don't feel another pub is needed in the centre of town John Warren, Civic Society

The council's cabinet considered three bids for the site and has made Wetherspoons the preferred developer.

Civic Society secretary John Warren said the decision went against public opinion in the town.

"We would always have liked to see it being used by the county council as a community or heritage centre," he said.

"We don't feel another pub is needed in the centre of town.

"It's a very impressive building externally and it has a wonderful hall.

"It's an unfortunate outcome and we regret that the county council was not prepared to take the lead.

"The council seems totally impervious to public opinion."

William IV

Mr Warren said the society had tried to obtain grants for a feasibility study for using the hall as a museum, tourist information centre and possibly a base for the town council.

But because it did not own the hall, which had been Pembrokeshire's main courthouse since the reign of William IV, money was not forthcoming.

Haverfordwest's mayor elect, Barbara Shone, says most people in the town would have liked to have seen it used as an arts venue.

"If it's to be a pub them I'm glad it's Wetherspoons because they have got the money and experience of developing historic buildings," she said.

"I would have preferred if it could have been an arts complex but I understand the county council's decision."

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire Council said the preferred developer would now make a presentation to councillors about its plans.