A FORMER supermarket is poised to reopen as a pub following a £1.2m makeover.

National pub chain JD Wetherspoon has spent the past four months converting the disused Asda building, in the Castle Dene Shopping Centre, Hailsham Place, Peterlee, into its latest establishment.

Due to open next Monday, it will be known as The Five Quarter, and will create 35 full and part-time jobs.

The pub will be managed by Paul McNicholas and Claire Daly, both from Peterlee.

It will follow the chain's philosophy of being music free and having a third of its customer area designated as non-smoking.

The pub will also be wheelchair accessible and have an adapted toilet for disabled customers.

It will specialise in cask conditioned beers, serving five of them at all times, including a range from micro brewers across the UK.

The Five Quarter will be open from 8am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 10.30pm on Sundays, although alcoholic drinks will only be served from 11am, Monday to Saturday, and noon on Sundays.

Accompanied children will be admitted from opening time until 5pm throughout the week, when both the adult and child are ordering a meal. Mr McNicholas said: "Claire and I are both looking forward to welcoming customers into the pub.

"We believe that people will be impressed with the transformation of the former supermarket and that The Five Quarter will be a good addition to the town's social scene."