ONE of St Helens town centre’s leading entertainment venues has been bought by high-street pub chain JD Wetherspoon in a move that could create 35 jobs.

Chicago Rock Cafe on Chalon Way was purchased by the pub giants on Monday and is in line for a £500,000 refurbishment.

Eddie Gershon, spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, told the Star: “The deal went through on Monday and I would expect we will open the new pub by the end of 2009 or the early part of 2010.

“We have already got the one pub in St Helens, the Glass House, which is successful, and with St Helens being a decent size town we have been searching for a second site for some time.

“We expect to create new jobs and there will be an investment of between £500,000 and £600,000.”

The company also runs the chain of Lloyds bars – which offers music and entertainment in contrast to traditional Wetherspoon pubs - and it is a possibility such a venue could be created in St Helens.

A spokeswoman for 3D Entertainment Group, which sold Chicago Rock, said: “This is part of a deal that saw a number of venues sold to JD Wetherspoon.

“Under employment law staff will be transferred to the new owner. Staff have been aware of the transfer for a while.”