JD Wetherspoon is planning to open a huge new pub at Paddington Station as it continues its expansion across London’s major transport hubs.
The proposed venue would occupy more than 3,600 sq ft across two floors, including a mezzanine level, and would take over three units in the station’s former ticket hall, which provides direct access to the Bakerloo line.
If approved, it would be larger than the company’s recently opened Captain Flinders pub at Euston and slightly smaller than The Lion and The Unicorn at Waterloo.
London’s railway stations have become a growing focus for the pub chain in recent years.
New openings have included The Sun Wharf at London Bridge and Walham Green, located in the former ticket hall at Fulham Broadway.
Westminster Council earlier this month granted the chain a licence for a large bar next to Charing Cross station.
Wetherspoons has also recently opened a separate site close to Paddington, at Merchant Square, underscoring its appetite for high-footfall transport locations.
Plans submitted for consultation indicate the newest venue may be called The Post Room, although a final name has yet to be confirmed.
The company is currently seeking feedback from local residents and businesses ahead of submitting a formal planning application to Westminster City Council.
It comes after the Government announced every pub in England will get 15% off its business rates bill as part of a support package for bars and music venues following warnings tax hikes were set to devastate the industry.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves signed off the relief on Tuesday after increases to business rates announced in her Budget last year.
The damage was being done by a combination of large increases in rateable values, based on how much a property would cost to rent a year, and the end of 40% relief for the sectors most harmed by the pandemic lockdowns.
Landlords and music venue bosses warned the changes would results in many bars seeing bills rise by an average of 76% by 2028 and lead to mass closures and job cuts.
Pubs will now receive additional support until 2029 but the Chancellor has avoided more fundamental changes to business rates.
Every pub in England will get 15% off its new business rates bill and they will then be frozen in real terms for a further two years.
The support, which will also be extended to music venues, is worth £1,650 for the average bar next year, the Government said.
