Wetherspoons to shut ‘the best' city-centre pub in DAYS leaving punters gutted

The Sun

02-05-2025

ANOTHER Wetherspoons pub is set to close this month much to the dismay of customers.
The Spon Gate in Coventry announced their branch of Wetherspoons is will be closing on May 25.
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The popular UK pub company opened The Spon Gate as a Wetherspoons in July 2010, driving its name from one of the 12 gates around the medieval city's walls.
Two Wetherspoons will remain in Coventry's city centre, The Flying Standard and The Earl of Mercia.
Staff are believed to have been offered employment to these other businesses.
Wetherspoons spokesperson, Eddie Gershon, said: "It is a commercial decision taken by Wetherspoon.
"We thank all our staff and customers over the years."
Punters have taken to social media to express their disappoint at the news of what they have labelled "the best" pub.
A Facebook user wrote: "It's the best one in town, not keen on the other two."
A second commented: "The only decent place in Coventry for a nice meal and good priced drinks.
"So sad it's to close, thank you for the brilliant service we have received over the years."
A third chipped in: "Another bar closing. The city is dying fast."
Why are pubs closing?
Meanwhile, a fourth added: "Another pub bites the dust."
Prior to becoming a Wetherspoons pub, The Spon Gate was a Chicago Rock Cafe on Spon Street, near St John's Church.
The gate from which it derived its name was demolished in 1771, after surviving Charles II left it as one of the remaining wall gates in 1662.
The pub has since kept photographs and drawings decorated around its walls to show Coventry's medieval history.
Last month, figures published by the British Beer and Pub Association Association also revealed around six pubs permanently closed every week last year, with the loss of 4,500 jobs.
The trade body found 289 boozers served last orders for the final time in 2024 across England and Wales.
With employer National Insurance contributions being hiked with the minimum wage, more pubs are expected to shut this year too.
It has therefore not been all good news for Wetherspoons punters in recently.
The pub chain also exclusively revealed to The Sun in January it had increased the price of a host of drinks and meal deals by up to 30p.
Prices on drinks were hiked by 15p, while meal deals were increased by 30p.
Wetherspoons said a number of drinks, though, had not gone up in price including all draught lagers like Budweiser, Carling and Coors.
Boss Tim Martin said the pub chain had "tried to remain as competitive as possible" with its pricing.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map - Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you're planning a pint at a Spoons, it's worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you're settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day - Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers - Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy - The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table - but you don't need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date - Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.