A popular Wetherspoon pub is closing in the capital this weekend.
Wetherspoon has shut a number of pubs this year, as the chain rejigs its portfolio to concentrate on fewer, larger sites.
The next scheduled closures are Baxter’s Court in Hackney (closing on November 2) and The Water Gate in Barnstaple (which will close on November 9.)
Sir Tim Martin, the chain’s founder, said that Wetherspoons “regularly reviews” the pubs it has on the books, and will keep tabs on which might be put up for sale.
The chain previously said that the majority of the recent closures were “smaller and older” venues or the company has a second pub relatively close by.
But lovers of the east London pub have declared the upcoming closure “utterly ridiculous”, according to the Sun.
They said: “This part of North London is hardly blessed with many Spoons to begin with.”
Another fan said: “What a shame. used to go there loads in college loved the ‘roof terrace’ upstairs.”
The Barnstable pub has been described as a “superb spoons”.
One customer said they were “gutted” about the news of its closure.
The pubs were put up for sale by JD Wetherspoon in June, along with four other pubs:
- The Babington Arms, Derby
- Kentish Drovers, Peckham
- The Grey Friar, Preston
- The William Jameson, Sunderland
They will continue operating as Wetherspoons until they’re sold.
Which Wetherspoons pubs have closed recently?
Wetherspoon has been offloading smaller or older pubs in recent years.
- Linen Weaver, Cork
- The George, Wanstead
- Hain Line, St Ives
- Foot of the Walk, Leith
- 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 Butler’s Bell, Stafford
- Millers Well, East Ham
- Millers Well, Purley, Halifax
- The Coronet, London
- White Hart, Todmorden
- Asparagus, south-west London
- Mockbeggar Hall, Moreton
- Sir Norman Rae, Shipley
- Lord Arthur Lee, Fareham
- Market Cross, Holywell
- Regent, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
- An Geata Arundel, Waterford
- Jolly Sailor, Bristol
- The London & Rye in Rushey Green, Catford
- Bears Head, Penarth
- Alfred Herring, north London
However, the pub chain has also opened pubs at new sites in recent months.
In September, a new Wetherspoon opened in the Sun Wharf, in London Bridge, which was home to the London Dungeon for nearly 40 years.
Another boozer opened in the Paddington Basin on Merchant Square, taking over the site of the former Temper restaurant. The pub is named The Sir Alexander Fleming, due to its close proximity to Queen Mary's Hospital, where Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin.
Wetherspoon has plans to open pubs in more locations. Last month, the pub company signed a new franchise agreement with The Papas Group, which will include opening 15 new sites.
That includes a new pub at Gateway Park, Lincoln, on the site of a former Gateway Park Brewers Fayre, and in Annitsford, Stockton-on-Tees and Emersons Green.
