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Wetherspoons to sell off 32 pubs amid rising bills and inflation

The budget pub chain has listed 32 of its UK pubs for sale in what it described as a "commercial decision"

Georgina Pellant - 27th September 2022

Now is not a great time to be running a hospitality business, that much is clear. At the moment the closure announcements are coming in almost daily – and now it appears that even the UK pub giant Wetherspoons is feeling the bite.

The chain, run by arch Brexiteer Tim Martin, has listed 32 of its English pubs for sale online as it battles against rising bills and record inflation alongside the rest of the UK’s hospitality industry.

Of the pubs that are set to close, ten of them are in the capital whilst the rest are spread out across the country.

Whilst no pubs are closing in Greater Manchester, there are two pubs across the Pennines up for sale in Yorkshire, and another nearby in the Wirral.

Describing the move as a “commercial decision”, the pub group said it understood that staff and customers will be disappointed with the news to close the boozers.

It added that the pubs would continue to operate as Wetherspoon outlets until they are sold, at which point they will close for good.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “On occasion Wetherspoon does put some of its pubs up for sale.

“This is a commercial decision. We understand that customers and staff will be disappointed with it. The pubs will continue to operate as Wetherspoon outlets until they are sold.”

CBRE and Savills have been appointed to market the pubs for sale, The Caterer reports.

Toby Hall, senior director at CBRE, said: “The excellent mix of locations in this portfolio is rarely seen in the market.

Read more: Chorlton neighbourhood favourite The Creameries has permanently closed

“With more than half of the portfolio located in London and the south-east and other strong locations in the south-west, Midlands and [north of England] we believe the pubs represent an excellent opportunity for existing pub operators and new entrants”.

Which JD Wetherspoon pubs are set for closure?

• Barnsley – Silkstone Inn
• Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion
• Bexleyheath – Wrong ‘Un
• Bournemouth – Christopher Creeke
• Cheltenham – Bank House
• Durham – Water House
• Halifax – Percy Shaw
• Hanham – Jolly Sailor
• Harrow – Moon on the Hill
• Hove – Cliftonville Inn
• London Battersea – Asparagus
• London East Ham – Miller’s Well
• London Eltham – Bankers Draft
• London Forest Gate – Hudson Bay
• London Forest Hill – Capitol
• London Hornsey – Toll Gate
• London Holborn – Penderel’s Oak
• London Islington – Angel
• London Palmers Green – Alfred Herring
• Loughborough – Moon & Bell
• Loughton – Last Post
• Mansfield – Widow Frost
• Middlesbrough – Resolution
• Purley – Foxley Hatch
• Redditch – Rising Sun
• Sevenoaks – Sennockian
• Southampton – Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis
• Stafford – Butler’s Bell
• Watford – Colombia Press
• West Bromwich – Billiard Hall
• Willenhall – Malthouse
• Wirral – John Masefield

Feature image – Geograph