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Metro
a day ago
- Business
- Metro
Wetherspoon boss reveals the one pub idea that could be a 'bridge too far'
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has hailed the founding fathers of America as his biggest inspiration as he spoke to mark the opening of a new pub named after a 759-year-old peace treaty. Tim Martin said democracy is 'the important factor in the development of society' — although he admitted his knowledge of history is 'scant'. The company's founder spoke as the chain opens five new pubs, including The Dictum of Kenilworth. Converted from a former discount store, the £3.2 million venue is named after the pronouncement to reconcile the rebels of the Second Barons' War — a group of whom held out in the town's castle— with the royal government of England. 'A lot of businesses in recent decades have gone down a 'branding' route, whereby decor, design, the name and so on are linked to a particular image or brand,' Martin said. 'We've always felt that pubs are more individual and people appreciate authentic links to the community and to the past: to local people, the building, and history. 'We also try and include some works by local artists. 'Many of our early London pubs, for example, featured artwork by my cousin Gabrielle, who comes from nearby Coventry.' Asked if there is a figure from history he most admired, the company's chairman picked out the founding fathers who are credited with establishing the American identity in the late 18th Century. *The Sun Wharf in London Bridge, previously The London Dungeon in Tooley Street. Opens September 16. *The Sir Alexander Fleming in Paddington, named after the eminent physician who discovered penicillin in nearby Queen Mary's Hospital. Opens September 23. *The Sigered, King of Essex in Basildon, themed on the town's Saxon origins. Opens December 2. *The Chiltern, set in a former silent picture house in Beaconsfield. Opens September 30. *The Dictum of Kenilworth, the name is a reference to a rebellion and seige. Opened on Tuesday. 'I think the most important factor in the development of society is democracy – in spite of the turbulence and arguments it inevitably involves,' he said. 'In that respect America is the most important democracy, which has helped Western Europe, Japan, South Korea and many other countries emerge from authoritarianism. 'So I'd have to say the founding fathers of America are my inspiration, although my knowledge of history is scant.' Wetherspoon is due to open the pubs before the end of the year, all of which incorporate local history into their design. However one desired conversion at the heart of British political history, where Martin will go down as an outspoken Brexiteer, will remain out of reach. 'Wags have often suggested we could convert the Houses of Parliament into a pub, but that's probably a bridge too far,' he said. Asked what visitors to the Dictum will make of it, Martin quipped: 'Hopefully, they'll say, 'Strewth, these Wetherspoon guys don't hold back on their investment. From now on, Paris, Rome and Kenilworth will be the main European tourist destinations…'' More Trending Seventy jobs have been created following a £3.2 million development project to create the Dictum, according to Wetherspoon. Hundreds turned up for the opening on Tuesday morning, some travelling from across the country, to check out the new surroundings, which include photographs, details and artwork with local relevance. Pub manager Tom Clarke said: 'Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Dictum of Kenilworth and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to Kenilworth's social scene.' Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: Globe-trotting couple couchsurf in Saudi Arabia on mission to visit 1,500 airports MORE: Wetherspoon fan books Ireland cruise on quest to visit all pubs in British Isles MORE: 'It gets me out of the house': Pensioner's 'hobby' sees him visit 900 Wetherspoons
Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Wetherspoon reveals plans to open 30 new pubs – full list of sites opening in DAYS
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WETHERSPOONS has revealed plans to open 30 new pubs after it was bolstered by booming sales of Guinness and bargain breakfast meals. The no-frills pub chain said like-for-like sales increased by 5.1% in the three months to July 20, compared to the exact same period the year before. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Wetherspoons has reported an increase in like-for-like sales Punters on the hunt for a cut-price pint, in the wake of soaring summer temperatures, also helped trade across its 794 haunts. Sales volumes are now surpassing pre-pandemic levels, with demand for New Zealand wine and Italian prosecco helping drive recovery. Sir Tim Martin, the outspoken boss of chain, said: "Draught volumes are performing strongly with Guinness being the standout performer." The Irish stout is having its moment in the sun, with "unprecedented demand" for the booze leading to shortages in pubs last Christmas. Elsewhere, diners are once again treating themselves to a fry up, following a "terribly slow" return after the pandemic. Prices for a small breakfast at the chain, which includes fried egg, bacon, sausage, baked beans and a hashbrown, start at £3.99. Tim added: "Chicken, also, has put in a clucking good performance and volumes in recent weeks are up by about 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels." The British institution now has plans to open approximately 15 new managed pubs and about the same number of franchised pubs. The exact locations of these sites are yet to be revealed, but The Sun will update this piece when we hear more. It adds to a raft of new openings announced by the budget firm earlier this year, including a site on the former grounds of The London Dungeon. The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu The Sun Wharf on Tooley Street is due to open on September 2. The posh London neighbourhood of Fulham has also welcomed a new Spoons located in the old West London tube station. Fans will be treated to three more openings this year, including a branch in Warwickshire which will open next Tuesday, July 29. Two more sites are also due to open across Paddington and Beaconsfield. Is a Wetherspoons coming to a neighbourhood near you? You can check out an updated list of openings for this year below: Marlow, Buckinghamshire - already open London Waterloo Station - already open The Conister Arms, Douglas, Isle of Man- already open Walham Green, Fulham Broadway - already open Dictum of Kenilworth, Warwickshire - opening July 29 The Sun Wharf, Tooley Street, London Bridge - opening September 2 The Sir Alexander Fleming, Paddington - opening September 23 The King of Essex in Basildon - opening September 30 The Chiltern, Beaconsfield - opening December 2 As well as expanding its store estate, the chain has been offloading some of its smaller and older pubs. The sites up for sale now are: The Water Gate - Barnstaple The Babington Arms - Derby Baxter's Court, Hackney Kentish Drovers, Peckham The Grey Friar, Preston The William Jameson, Sunderland But it is important to note that these pubs will continue trading as Spoons until they're sold.
Daily Mirror
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Full list of new Wetherspoon branches opening in the UK
Wetherspoon have announced six new branches of their popular pubs will be opening in 2025 - will there be one near you? With over 800 pubs, and over 50 hotels, across the UK, the chances are you may already have a branch of JD Wetherspoon on your high street. But fans of the British pub chain will no doubt be pleased to hear that more branches will be popping up in 2025. Wetherspoon have confirmed they'll be opening six new pubs, with a variety of interesting locations from a repurposed industrial site in West London, to a former 1920s cinema in a market town. Four of the locations will also include a pub garden area for outdoor drinking and dining. While the chain saw a rise in food and drink sales at the end of 2024, they took the step of closing several pubs last year, such as the The Spon Gate in Coventry. According to a spokesperson at the time, this was a 'commercial decision'. However, new branches have already popped up this year in locations including Marlow, Buckinghamshire, London Waterloo Station, and on the Isle of Man - the first 'Spoons to make it to the island. Wetherspoon have also gone into partnership with Haven Holidays, with plans to extend the number of branches in their holiday parks. The first on-park Wetherspoon opened last year in Yorkshire's Primrose Valley, and four more locations followed in 2025, including a branch in Haven's Devon Cliffs park. A spokesman for Wetherspoon confirmed there would be further Haven locations opening in future, but was unable to give dates at the time. The new 'Spoons branches will be set in a variety of interesting locations. The recently opened Walham Green, Fulham is set in the old entrance building and ticket hall of Fulham Broadway tube station, and railway enthusiasts will love the nods to its past in the train-themed décor. New branch The Sun Wharf in London Bridge may also look familiar to those who've visited a certain family attraction in the capital. For 39 years, the building was home to the London Dungeon, which moved to County Hall on the Southbank in 2013. While the horror-themed décor might have been removed, the beautiful brick arches will remain. Outside of London, new openings include the The Chiltern, Beaconsfield, which was originally a 500-seat Picture House. The cinema first opened in 1927, and entertained moviegoers for decades. It then became a Prezzo, which has since closed, and will be re-opening as a Wetherspoons in December. Full list of new Wetherspoon openings Walham Green, Fulham - just opened The Dictum of Kenilworth, Kenilworth - July 29 The Sun Wharf, London Bridge - September 2 The Sir Alexander Fleming, Paddington - September 23 Sigered, King of Essex, Basildon - September 30 The Chiltern, Beaconsfield - December 2
