Wetherspoon to close 12 pubs across the UK - full list of locations

Phoebe Cornish
·3-min read
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 19: A man takes his pint of Stella Artois from the bar at Wetherspoons pub The Moon Under Water on July 19, 2021 in Manchester, England.
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


The UK pub giant Wetherspoon, which has over 790 locations nationwide, is looking at potentially closing down 10 establishments, as several sites have been put up for sale.

Among the areas affected are Cardiff, Swindon, Felixstowe, and others, with properties now on the market seeking new ownership. Many of these pubs were listed for sale last year, although some, like The Gate House in Doncaster, have been withdrawn from sale.

Back in September 2023, The Gate House on Priory Walk was announced as one of the 10 properties Wetherspoon was selling off. However, Wetherspoon's spokesperson, Eddie Gershon, clarified to the Doncaster Free Press on March 21 that The Gate House is "no longer for sale" and affirmed it will "continue to run as a Wetherspoon pub".

This news comes amidst the shutdown of at least a dozen 'Spoons' across the UK this year alone, with one of the most notable closures being The London and Rye in Catford, which ceased operations after a 24-year tenure on Sunday, August 25. Earlier in the year, the property was listed for sale through estate agents Savills, with bids starting at £850,000.

Owner Tim Martin has pointed out that the company has mostly been closing venues that are "smaller and older", or those that are situated near other Wetherspoon pubs, reports the Express.

Below is a list of all the Wetherspoon pubs currently up for sale:

  • The Pontlottyn, Abertillery

  • The Ivor Davies, Cardiff

  • Spa Lane Vaults, Chesterfield

  • The Sir Daniel Arms, Swindon

  • The Plough and Harrow, London

  • Sennockian, Sevenoaks

  • Hain Line, St Ives

  • Lord Claud Hamilton, Felixstowe (underdeveloped site)

  • Barid’s Department Store, Hamilton (underdeveloped site)

  • Foot of the Walk, Leith

  • Thomas Drummond, Fleetwood

  • The Quay, Poole

Additionally, the Cross Keys pub in Peebles is currently 'under offer'.

Wetherspoon pubs that have closed this year

  1. The White Hart, Todmorden

  2. The Market Cross, Holywell

  3. The Regent, Kirkby in Ashfield

  4. The Sir Norman Rae, Shipley

  5. The White Hart, Todmorden

  6. Lord Arthur Lee, Fareham

  7. Resolution, Middlesbrough

  8. The Asparagus, Battersea, London

  9. Percy Shaw, Halifax

  10. Alfred Herring, Palmers Green, London

  11. World’s Inn, Romford

  12. London & Rye, Catford

Wetherspoons pub The Rockingham Arms at Elephant and Castle on 27th August 2024 in London, United Kingdom. J D Wetherspoon plc branded as Wetherspoon, and commonly known as Spoons is a pub company in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founded in 1979 by Tim Martin, the company operates nearly 900 pubs, including the chain of Lloyds No. 1 bars, and a growing number of Wetherspoon hotels. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

In the ever-changing landscape of British pubs, some establishments that have closed are finding new life under different management. The Market Cross in Holywell, previously a Wetherspoon pub, has been revived with the promise of "cheap" food and drink, as reported by local media.

Another former Wetherspoon venue, The Regent in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, has also been given a fresh start as a new pub, while The Mockbeggar Hall in Moreton shut its doors permanently on March 17. Meanwhile, Wetherspoon is still looking to offload its Christopher Creek location on Lansdowne Road, Bournemouth, which ceased operations in March 2022.

However, it's not all gloomy for the pub giant. Wetherspoon has announced the launch of two new pubs set to open their doors in September. The Lion and The Unicorn at London Waterloo Station will welcome patrons from Tuesday, September 3, followed by The Grand Assembly in Marlow, opening on Tuesday, September 24.

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