A GROWING pub chain which serves cheap pints and has a no-music policy could soon be moving into a former Westhoughton supermarket.

JD Wetherspoon is currently in talks to buy the old Co-op Pioneer store on Market Street, which closed last year.

The company already has the Spinning Mule in Nelson Square, Bolton town centre, as well as the Sir Robert Peel in Bury.

It opened nearly 100 new bars across the country last year, adding to its existing 337 outlets.

Eddie Gershon, a spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, confirmed the pub chain was hoping to move into the premises in Westhoughton.

Signed

He said: "The ball is rolling. We are in talks with the owners, but nothing has been signed so far and anything could happen.

"Although we have pubs in Bolton, there are whole areas which we have not moved into."

Last year, JD Wetherspoon pulled out of a £800,000 development on the site of the former Nibblers nightclub and snooker hall on Chorley New Road.

The company felt that the cost of converting the £800,000 Edwardian building would prove too expensive for a town the size of Horwich.

At the time Mr Gershon said the firm would continue to look at other sites throughout Bolton.

JD Wetherspoon pubs have become popular with their policy of cheap drinks, no music and smoke-free areas.

The Co-op Pioneer store closed last year after it was targeted by arsonists. The building, in a prime town centre spot, has remained empty for several months.