A national chain has bought the largest pub at Brighton Marina a year after pulling out of a deal to create a £1.5 million superpub nearby.

JD Wetherspoon decided last May the marina was too quiet during the week and the winter months.

But following the opening of new bars, Britain's fastest growing pub chain has decided it is the right place after all.

The chain, which charges some of the cheapest bar prices in Britain and offers food throughout opening hours, has bought Jackson's Wharf, overlooking the moorings.

It will spend £600,000 to turn the pub into a Lloyds No 1 Bar, the more sophisticated version of the Wetherspoon concept, with background music, unlike other pubs in the chain.

Jackson's Wharf, which opened in December 1999, closed on Friday. Builders move in next week to refit the premises before it reopens as Lloyds Bar West Quay on July 21.

Wetherspoon last year pulled out of a deal to take over two units in the new Waterside Development at the marina and spend £1.5 million creating its first Lloyds No 1 Bar in Brighton.

At the time, the pub company, run by Tim Martin, said it believed there were not enough people visiting the marina, especially during the winter months and during the day for it to be a success.

Eddie Gershon, spokesman for Wetherspoon, said: "We did pull out last year after assessing the marina but this is an entirely different project. We have bought an established pub and we believe we can make it more successful. We always said we are looking for new venues in Brighton and Hove."

Two new bars with late licences have opened at the marina in the past 15 months close to Jackson's Wharf - the Ebony Room, run by the Golden Lion Group whose offices are at the marina, and the Karma Bar, operated by Sussex businessman Paul Craig.

Jackson's Wharf will not initially have a 2am licence at weekends.

Dave Day, of the Golden Lion Group, said: "Having competition from Wetherspoon does not worry me in the slightest. It is good for the marina that top pub chains want to come here. We all have our own clientele."

Tim Martin, chairman of the Wetherspoon chain, said: "We are committed to the new city of Brighton and Hove. Our two pubs in the city, Wetherspoon's, West Street, and The Cliftonville Inn, George Street, Hove, have both done well. We believe our Lloyds No 1 Bar concept is right for Brighton Marina, which is at last living up to its full potential."

The Wetherspoon chain was launched by Mr Martin when he worked in the City because he could not find pubs selling a good variety of beer and food at reasonable prices and did not blast out music.

Multi-millionaire Mr Martin now heads a chain of 650 pubs and more than 30 Lloyds No 1 Bars.

Jackson's Wharf pub and restaurant has 5,500sqft of floor space.

It was previously owned by the Noble House Group. Pub manager Malcolm Mant will stay on and supervise the refit.