News
Wetherspoons to close another 22 pubs despite already shutting 28 this year
The chain has denied it is part of a ‘money-raising exercise’ amid rising energy costs
Wetherspoons has put a further 22 pubs up for sale after already selling 28 of its sites this year.
The pub giant plans to offload more venues in a huge overhaul of its estate but it has denied it is part of a ‘money-raising exercise’ amid rising costs of food and energy, which has been leaving many businesses struggling to keep up.
Instead, Wetherspoons said ‘almost all’ of sites it had put up for sale already had another venue ‘nearby’.
From the 28 pub closures, Wetherspoons bosses say it has made a ‘modest amount’ from these sales.
The Pre-Close Trading Agreement reads: “In fact, the disposals have raised relatively modest amounts (although every little helps) and almost all are related to circumstances, as outlined above, where there is another Wetherspoon pub nearby.”
There are 22 pubs that remain on the market, or are under offer. The company currently has a trading estate of 827 pubs. Wetherspoons also shared it had made profits when compared to the previous year.
Compared to the financial year of 2022, the company’s like-for-like sales increased by 11.5% in the fourth quarter to date and by 12.9% in this financial year to date.
The brand also hasn’t confirmed which of its sites are set to shut, leaving customers wondering if last orders will be served for good at their local Spoons.
The chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, said: “The company expects profits in the current financial year to be in line with market expectations.
“As a result of a continued improvement in sales and a slightly reduced expectation for cost increases, for example energy costs, the company anticipates an improved outcome for the next financial year, and anticipates an outcome for the first half of FY24 approximately in line with the second half of FY23.”
While a confirmed list of Wetherspoons pubs set to shut down is yet to be announced, the venues up for sale have been spotted online.
Pubs under offer:
- Asparagus – Battersea
- General Sir Redvers Buller – Crediton
- Millers Well – East Ham
- The Bankers Draft – Eltham
- Hudson Bay – Forest Gate
- Capitol – Forest Hill
- The Saltoun Inn – Fraserburgh
- The Percy Shaw – Halifax
- Coronet – Holloway
- The Alfred Herring – Palmers Green
- The Cross Keys – Peebles
- Foxley Hatch – Purley
- The Butlers Bell – Stafford
- The Widow Frost – Mansfield
Pubs ‘available’ for sale:
- Lord Arthur Lee – Fareham
- Plough & Harrow – Hammersmith
- Jolly Sailor – Hanham
- World’s Inn – Romford
- Sennockian – Sevenoaks
- Former Tusk Nightclub & Waverly Tea Rooms – Watford
- Wrong ‘Un – Bexleyheath
- Moon on the Hill, Harrow
Pubs already sold:
- 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 Worlds Inn, Romford
We’re pleased to announce that Proper Manchester is rebranding as Finest City Guides.
As part of this change, the Proper Manchester brand, including its social media channels, will transition to the Finest City Guides name.
This is a rebrand of the existing platform rather than a new or unrelated business. The same team behind Proper Manchester will continue to operate Finest City Guides as we develop the platform under its new identity.
Previous name: Proper Manchester
New name: Finest City Guides
Our social channels and other brand assets will be updated to reflect the Finest City Guides name as part of this transition.
More from Finest City Guides coming soon.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
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