Wetherspoons confirms exact date when iconic pub will close for good
A popular Wetherspoons pub is about to close despite a campaign from locals to try and save it.
The Foot of the Walk pub in the Leith area of Edinburgh was put up for sale in January.
The pub had continued trading throughout the year, until it was sold – and bartenders will pull their final pint there on November 3 as it ceases trading.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told Edinburgh News: ‘We would like to thank our staff and customers for their loyalty to the pub over many years.
‘Wetherspoon does, on occasion, sell pubs, and this is the situation here.’
Staff working at the Foot of the Walk have been offered jobs in other Wetherspoon branches, or to transfer to the pub’s new owners.
When the pub was first placed on the market, locals rallied to try and save the historic venue.
Hundreds of residents signed a petition calling for the ‘beloved local institution’ to be maintained.
Leith local Mark Harrington, who collected the signatures in the hope of prompting a change of heart from Wetherspoon, said the building was a ‘part of local heritage’.
He said: ‘As a local resident of Leith, Edinburgh, I have cherished memories and experiences at Wetherspoons Foot of the Walk.
‘This pub is more than just a place to enjoy a pint; it’s where we meet friends and family, share stories, and feel part of our community.
‘It offers reasonably priced drinks and food in an atmosphere that feels like home to many locals. However, this beloved local institution is under threat.
‘We cannot stand by as our community loses its character piece by piece.’
The Foot of the Walk takes its name from its location at the end of Leith Walk.
It originally opened as the Palace picture house and was later converted into a snooker hall.
There are several Wetherspoon pubs at risk of closure across the UK at the moment, but it isn’t all bad news for the bargain pub chain, as new branches have recently opened at train stations and airports.
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