The British pub firm currently operates over 800 venues across the UK
Popular pub chain JD Wetherspoon has confirmed it is opening 12 new pubs before the end of November. The range of boozers ranges from locations including UK airports, Hull, Crewe, Bedford, Piccadilly and Charing Cross.
Some are set to open within days. The British pub firm currently operates over 800 venues across the UK and Ireland. Many of these are located in converted unconventional premises, such as former banks and cinemas.
In a statement Wetherspoon said: “Each pub has its own design, character and personality, based on local history. Recognised for transforming old buildings into vibrant pubs, Wetherspoon has won numerous design awards”
Pubs opening follow The Sir Frank Whittle, Heathrow Airport, which started in July and the £3.5 million pub opening is said to have created 100 new jobs. Yesterday, August 12. Home Farm, opened in Hessle, which takes its name from a nearby country estate farm, reflecting the area’s rural past, echoed today by Home Farm Cottages, also in the locality. Hessle grew through industries such as chalk-quarrying and shipbuilding before the Humber Bridge opened in 1981, transforming cross-estuary links.
On September 1 the The Marshfield Bank Farm House, Crewe opens on the site of the former Farmhouse Beefeater. There are also two airport outlets – with The Belle Vue, Manchester Airport and Sant Jordi, Barcelona Airport landing.
Full list of Wetherspoon openings
- Home Farm, Hessle Opening Wed August 12 Ferriby Rd, Hull, Hessle
- The Marshfield Bank Farm House, Crewe opening Tue September 1 Coppenhall Lane, Woolstanwood, Crewe
- The Red Gown, St Andrews University opening Fri September 4 Students’ Association, St Andrew University
- The Heath Hotel, Southampton opening Tue September 8 Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu, Southampton
- The Belle Vue, Manchester Airport opening Tue September 8 Terminal 2 (Airside)
- The Cranborne Hundred, Ferndown opening Wed September 16 Ringwood Road, Ferndown
- The Fletton Brick, Bedford opening Tue September 29 Marsh Leys Cottages, Kempston
- Piccadilly Hall, Piccadilly opening Tue October 13 The Trocadero, 30 Shaftesbury Avenue, London
- Sant Jordi, Barcelona Airport opening November Terminal 1 (Airside – Schengen Area)
- The William Chambers, Edinburgh opening Tue November 3 30a Chambers Street, EH1 1HU
- The Benjamin Franklin, Charing Cross opening Tue November 24 11 Strand, London
The openings represent a vote of confidence from the chain after it has reported slower-than-expected sales growth and warned over profits in July.
The British pub chain recorded sales growth of 4% in the three months to July 19, compared with the same period last year.
Wetherspoons operates 793 managed pubs and 23 franchise sites across the UK. Founder and chairman Tim Martin told investors: “Profits for the year are likely to be below market expectations, with marginally lower sales than anticipated in the final quarter, combined with higher costs in the areas of food, labour, repairs, energy and business rates.”
It previously said it was facing £60 million of extra costs linked to wage increases and National Insurance contributions for the year.
