MAT Turner, a keen footballer, has been named as manager of The Iron Duke in Wellington.

Mr Turner, who is 32, has been in charge of a pub in Southampton for the past eight years. He said yesterday: “I’m very keen on local produce and I’m hoping The Iron Duke will reflect this.”

The Wetherspoon pub is set to open on Tuesday, August 30, with the person opening it not yet being disclosed. The pub will be staffed by 60.

Mat’s girlfriend is Sara-Beth Rowland, whose parents Terry and Dawn Rowland live at Chelston.

“This will be my first opening of a new pub and I’m greatly looking forward to it and meeting the people of Wellington,” Mat added.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming customers into the pub and we are confident that it will be a great addition to the Wellington community.

“I enjoy playing football and I will be looking for a local team to join once I have settled down in the town.”

In a statement issued yesterday, Wetherspoon says: “The company has spent just over £2.3 million developing the outlet, on the site of the old Town Hall building, in Fore Street.

“The premises comprises the Grade II listed old Town Hall, erected in 1833, and the adjacent municipal building, which was built in the late 19th Century as a ‘corn and provision market’.

“The new pub is named after Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, who took his title from this Somerset town. The ‘Iron Duke’ twice held office as Prime Minister but is best remembered as the general who defeated Napoleon. Wellington’s victory at the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815, is commemorated by the three-sided obelisk situated on the highest point on the Blackdown Hills, overlooking the town.

“The new pub will be open from 8am until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 8am until 1am on Friday and Saturday. Food will be served throughout the day, from opening until 11pm, every da­y.

 “The Iron Duke will specialise in real ales, as well as craft and world beers, serving a wide range of different draught ales, as well as bottled beers, including those from local and regional brewers.

“It will be open for family dining, with children, accompanied by an adult, welcome in the pub up until 9pm, throughout the week.

“The pub will be wheelchair accessible and have a specially-adapted toilet for people with disabilities, on the ground floor.

“The new-look pub, which is on two floors, features one bar and a roof-top beer garden, to the rear of the pub, as well as a side roof-top terrace, where smoking will be permitted in a designated area.

“Historical photos and details of local history, as well as artwork and images of local scenes and characters of the area, are displayed in the pub, together with information boards relating to events.

“Among the artwork on display are commissioned pieces by local artists, including a hand stitch and Perspex piece of the Iron Duke building by Juliet Arnison and two hand-carved wood reliefs on elm (purchased in Somerset) made by Jane Mowat.”