‘Shame when they close!’ cry heartbroken punters as popular Wetherspoons shutters in spate of closures for pub chain
PUNTERS have been left heartbroken after a popular Wetherspoons closed its doors.
The Jolly Sailor in Hanham, near Bristol, pulled down its shutters for the final time on June 30.
Locals have expressed their sadness after the boozer closed down with many taking to social media to share their opinions.
One wrote on Facebook: “Was a great wetherspoon, rip jolly sailor.”
While another said: “Shame when they close.”
A third added: “Jolly sailor is a massive part of hanham. Reopen.”
And another said the closure was a “terrible shame”.
But although its time as a Wetherspoon pub is over, the Jolly Sailor will soon reopen under new ownership.
Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon said “Wetherspoon has exchanged on the property and completion is set for July 5”, meaning that locals will not have too long to wait until they can step back inside for a drink.
It was sold to a different pub operator after two years on the market.
The pub on the High Street has also offered its current staff the choice of jobs with the new owners, or to relocate to another Wetherspoon pub in the region.
The Sun have contacted Wetherspoon for comment.
It comes after Wetherspoons, which has 809 pubs across the UK, confirmed that 18 pubs were sold, or surrendered to the landlord between January and May this year.
Locals across the country could go on to lose as many more as 11 Wetherspoons drinking spots, which remain up for sale or under offer.
If a pub is under offer, it means that a buyer has presented an offer that is being considered by the seller.
Meanwhile, The Sun exclusively revealed that the The Wrong ‘Un in Bexleyheath has been removed from sale and will remain as a Wetherspoons.
But it’s not all bad news for drinkers, as the chain also opened two pubs this year.
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.
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.
It has recently made a big bet on giant pubs, such as its one in Ramsgate which can cater up to 1,400 punters.
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
And work on its “Super Spoons” in Newcastle is now underway which will include a 26-bedroom hotel and 3,000 sq ft beer garden.
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.