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Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wetherspoons unveils plans to open 15 new pubs - is one coming to a town near YOU?
British pub giant Wetherspoons has announced plans to launch 15 brand new sites in the coming days amid a surge in sales. The company has already unveiled two new pubs this year so far and is planning to build on that number with its ambitious plans already locked in. It comes as Wetherspoons revealed like-for-like purchases had jumped 5.6 per cent in the 13 weeks to April 27 this morning. Six locations have already been confirmed with around nine more due to open by July 2026, The Sun reports. First up is The Conister Arms in Douglas, Isle of Man, set to open on Wednesday May 14. Next is Walham Green at Fulham Broadway, South West London, with an opening date of Tuesday June 17. The Dictum of Kenilworth in Warwickshire will open on Wednesday July 30 while The Sun Wharf on Tooley Street near London Bridge will welcome punters on Tuesday August 26. On Tuesday September 23 The King of Essex in Basildon will open its doors. And finally, a new pub in Merchant Square, Paddington, is set to open later this summer, though the exact date is yet to be confirmed. In the last quarter, Wetherspoons unveiled four new franchised pubs in partnership with Haven Holiday Parks. These include The Red Rocks at Devon Cliffs, The Humber Stone at Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire, The London Stone at Kent Coast, and The Sir Thomas Haggerston at Haggerston Castle in Northumberland. It's not always been all sunshine and rainbows for the company however as in the most recent quarter Wetherspoons sold off seven venues - as total sales rose by a modest five per cent (and by four per cent for the year so far). The national landscape also presents a less than pretty picture as last month, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association revealed around six pubs permanently closed every week last year, leading to the loss of 4500 jobs across England and Wales. According to the trade body, 289 pubs called last orders for the final time in 2024, and more closures are expected this year amid higher National Insurance contributions and increases to minimum wage. In January, the pub chain told The Sun it had increased the price of some of its drinks and meal deals by up to 30p. Though, the cost of certain drinks - like Budweiser, Carling and Coors - remained unchanged. Despite the challenges, Wetherspoons is optimistic for a 'reasonable' full-year result. Chairman Tim Martin said: 'The company's main ambition, as always, is to improve its appeal to staff and customers. 'In this connection, for example, the company has invested in new staff facilities in 520 pubs (49 in the current year), including staff rooms and changing rooms, with approximately 270 planned for the future. 'The investment per pub is approximately £100,000. The product range for customers continues to evolve.' The comments come as Wetherspoons is expected to introduce a new 'gourmet' food range from May 14. Among its features are a range of new burgers including The Big Smoke - complete with pulled BBQ beef brisket, American-style cheese, and maple-cured bacon.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wetherspoons to open 15 new pubs starting in DAYS – see the list of locations and if one's near you
WETHERSPOONS is set to launch 15 brand-new pubs in the coming days, hot on the heels of a surge in sales. The pub giant revealed like-for-like sales had jumped 5.6% in the 13 weeks to April 27 this morning. 1 With two new pubs already unveiled this year - in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and at London Waterloo station - Spoons has ambitious plans to add up to 15 more, with six locations and opening dates already locked in. First on the list is The Conister Arms in Douglas, Isle of Man, set to open on Wednesday, May 14. Next is Walham Green at Fulham Broadway, South West London, opening on Tuesday, June 17. The Dictum of Kenilworth in Warwickshire will follow, opening on Wednesday, July 30. On Tuesday, August 26, The Sun Wharf on Tooley Street near London Bridge will welcome punters. The King of Essex in Basildon is scheduled to open on Tuesday, September 23. Finally, a new pub in Merchant Square, Paddington, is also set to open later this summer, though the exact date has yet to be confirmed. In the last quarter, Wetherspoons also opened four new franchised pubs in partnership with Haven Holiday Parks. These include The Red Rocks at Devon Cliffs, The Humber Stone at Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire, The London Stone at Kent Coast, and The Sir Thomas Haggerston at Haggerston Castle in Northumberland. Wetherspoons currently operates 795 pubs. Why are so many pubs and bars closing? Full list of new pubs on the way WHETHERSPOONS is gearing up to open pubs in six brand-new locations, with the first set to welcome punters in just a few days. Douglas, Isle of Man - May 14 Fulham, SW London - June 17 Kenilworth, Warwickshire - July 30 Tooley Steet, London Bridge - August 28 Basildon, Essex - September 23 Merchant Square, Paddington - late summer The pub giant is also planning to launch an additional nine pubs over the next financial year. What else is happening at Wetherspoons? Last month, figures from the British Beer and Pub Association revealed that around six pubs permanently closed every week last year, leading to the loss of 4,500 jobs across England and Wales. The trade body reported that 289 pubs called last orders for the final time in 2024, and with rising costs - including higher National Insurance contributions and increases to the minimum wage - more closures are expected this year. It hasn't been all good news for Wetherspoons fans either. While total sales in the most recent quarter rose by a modest 5%, and by 4% for the year so far, Wetherspoons has sold off seven venues during this period. In January, the pub chain told The Sun it had raised the price of some drinks and meal deals by up to 30p. Drinks went up by 15p, while meal deals increased by 30p. However, Wetherspoons confirmed that prices for certain drinks, including all draught lagers like Budweiser, Carling, and Coors, remained unchanged. Despite recent challenges, Wetherspoons has said it expects a "reasonable" full-year result, thanks in part to good weather boosting sales, even as staff costs continue to rise. Chairman Tim Martin said: "The company's main ambition, as always, is to improve its appeal to staff and customers. "In this connection, for example, the company has invested in new staff facilities in 520 pubs (49 in the current year), including staff rooms and changing rooms, with approximately 270 planned for the future. "The investment per pub is approximately £100,000. The product range for customers continues to evolve. "Bearing in mind that recent trading has been helped by favourable weather, the company anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, notwithstanding previously reported wage and tax increases of approximately £1.2million per week." 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.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Wetherspoon's boosted by April sunshine as investment grows
JD Wetherspoon expects a 'reasonable' outcome for the year after unseasonably warm weather helped the pub group offset higher costs at the start of the year. The group told investors on Wednesday like-for-like sales were up 5.6 per cent over the 13 weeks to 27 April, though total sales were up by 5 per cent reflecting a 'small number' of pub disposals over the period. Wetherspoon's has sold seven pubs since the star of the year, but opened two, leaving it with 795 venues in total. Having previously revealed a target of 1,000, Wetherspoon's said it intends to open 'four or five' new pubs this financial year and 'approximately 10' in 2026. But the group also spent £17million on seven freehold reversions, whereby Wetherspoon's buys pubs in which it was previously the tenant. An additional seven pubs now operate under a franchise agreement, four of which opened during the last quarter, all operated by Haven Holiday Parks. Chairman Tim Martin also noted fresh investment in new staff facilities across 520 pubs, with 49 completed in the current year, including staff rooms and changing rooms. The group has lined up staff facility investment for approximately 270 more of its pubs in the future at a cost of around £100,000 per venue. Martin also highlighted the group's growing product range, with the arrival of Jaipur traditional ale, Kronenbourg 1664 Biere and Poretti all proving popular additions to the bar. As a result of this investment, Wetherspoon's expects to end its financial year with debt of £720million to £740million, with headroom of approximately £200million. Martin added: 'Bearing in mind that recent trading has been helped by favourable weather, the company anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, notwithstanding previously reported wage and tax increases of approximately £1.2million per week.' JD Wetherspoon shares were down 0.5 per cent at 684.5p in early trading. They have added 12 per cent since the beginning of the year. Robinhood UK lead analyst Dan Lane said: 'Sales are in a good place and there is a clear focus on getting the pub count up but also making sure these are quality sites that the UK public wants to go to. 'Slowly does it though, as the property footprint still sits slightly below the 800 mark, against the 1,000 the group has previously targeted.' Lane added that the market has so far largely 'shrugged off' Wetherspoon's debt pile, while the group's near immunity from US tariff pressures 'has kept its interest despite inflationary pressures'. He said: 'No news of price hikes today and Martin will be hoping to weather any further uptick in inflation before he's forced to erode the chain's main selling point with a lift to the price of a pint. 'If the Bank of England drops interest rates tomorrow, we might see even more attention paid to businesses like this, naturally shielded from tariff headlines and already reinvesting in themselves for the long term.'
