Huge update on Wetherspoons closures as almost a dozen boozers remain on the market – is your local at risk of shutting?
WETHERSPOONS has issued a huge update on its pub closure plans as almost a dozen boozers remain on the market.
The pub chain shared the latest developments in a trading update which came out today.
Wetherspoons confirmed that it has sold or surrendered the lease on 26 pubs so far this year.
The Cross Keys in Peebles, Scotland and The Bear’s Head in Penarth are among the boozers that have been lost.
The Alfred Herring in Palmers, Green, London, is the most recent site to shut down for good.
Many pubs were listed for sale through the estate agent Savills, but some have quietly closed and changed hands without being listed.
Spoons, which has 801 pubs, said it has largely disposed of venues which are “smaller and older”, or where it has another branch in close proximity.
Meanwhile, locals could lose as many as 10 Wetherspoon drinking spots, which remain up for sale or under offer.
This means that a buyer has presented an offer that is being considered by the seller.
It doesn’t mean that the sale is guaranteed, and it could remain open if it doesn’t complete.
Pubs in in Cardiff, London, Bristol, Leith and Poole all remain on the market.
But it’s not all bad news for drinkers, as the chain also opened two pubs this year, with more to come.
The Lion and Unicorn opened at London’s Waterloo station in early April.
Plus, Wetherspoon opened its first pub at a holiday park at Haven’s Primrose Valley in Filey, North Yorkshire in March.
New openings in Waterloo and Fulham Broadway stations in London, and in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, are also planned for the coming months.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Wetherspoons boss Sir Tim Martin he is planning to ramp up plans to launch “Super Spoons” pubs – making existing sites even bigger.
Wetherspoons pubs that have closed
As many as 52 Wetherspoon pubs have already closed their doors. Here's the full list:
- The John Masefield, New Ferry
- Angel, Islington
- The Silkstone Inn, Barnsley
- The Billiard Hall, West Bromwich
- Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, Southampton
- The Colombia Press, Watford
- The Malthouse, Willenhall
- The John Masefield, New Ferry
- Thomas Leaper, Derby
- Cliftonville, Hove
- Tollgate, Harringay
- Last Post, Loughton
- Harvest Moon, Orpington
- Alexander Bain, Wick
- Chapel an Gansblydhen, Bodmin
- Moon on the Square, Basildon
- Coal Orchard, Taunton
- Running Horse, Airside Doncaster Airport
- Wild Rose, Bootle
- Edmund Halley, Lee Green
- The Willow Grove, Southport
- Postal Order, Worcester
- North and South Wales Bank, Wrexham
- The Sir John Stirling Maxwell, Glasgow
- The Knight’s Templar, London
- Christopher Creeke, Bournemouth
- The Water House, Durham
- The Widow Frost, Mansfield
- The Worlds Inn, Romford
- Hudson Bay, Forest Gate
- The Saltoun Inn, Fraserburgh
- The Bankers Draft, Eltham, London
- The Sir John Arderne, Newark
- The Capitol, Forest Hill
- Moon and Bell, Loughborough
- Nightjar, Ferndown
- General Sir Redvers Buller, Crediton
- The Rising Sun, Redditch
- The Butlers Bell, Stafford
- Millers Well, East Ham
- Foxley Hatch, Purley
- The Coronet, London
- The Percy Shaw, Halifax
- Resolution, Middlesborough
- Asparagus, Battersea
- The Sir Norman Rae, Shipley
- The Market Cross, Holywell
- The White Hart, Todmorden
- Resolution, Middlesbrough
- The Cross Keys, Peebles
- The Bear’s Head, Penarth
- The Lord Arthur Lee, Hampshire
- Alfred Herring, Palmers Green, London
It also has long-term ambitions of growing to 1,000 venues.
Sir Tim Martin said its total sales are at “record levels” despite having fewer venues than it did a year ago.
The chain has reported that like-for-like sales increased by 5.8% in the 10 weeks to July 7, despite unseasonably wet weather.
“The average Wetherspoon pub has generated taxes of one sort or another of £7 million in the last 10 years, as well as generating considerable employment and social benefits,” Sir Tim said.
“The last government failed to implement tax equality between pubs and supermarkets, leading to pub closures and underinvestment.
“Wetherspoon hopes that the current Chancellor, with a Bank of England pedigree, will understand how many beans make five, and rectify this inequality.”
Wetherspoons originally announced in September 2022 that it was putting dozens of its pubs up for sale.
The four pubs up for sale are:
- The Ivor Davies, Cardiff
- Thomas Drummond, Fleetwood
- The Quay, Poole
- The Bank House, Cheltenham
The six Wetherspoons branches that are currently under offer are as follows:
- Jolly Sailor, Bristol
- The Regent, Kirkby in Ashfield
- The Sir Daniel Arms, Swindon
- The Hain Line, St Ives
- Foot of the Walk, Leith
- London and Rye, London
Wetherspoons regularly reviews the branches it has up for sale and has often taken venues off the market to continue operating as part of the pub chain.
The Sun recently visited the UK’s biggest Wetherspoons and we found pints for under £3 and it has a striking difference to other pubs.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
Many Food and drink chains have been struggling in recent months as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
The brand plans to close 20 loss-making restaurants after a “challenging” start to the year.
Stonegate, has raised fears about its survival as it races to plug its debts.
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