Two more Wetherspoons pubs SAVED from closure including oldest boozer after fans cried of ‘devastating loss’

TWO more Wetherspoons pubs have been saved from closure, including their oldest boozer in the country.

The Rochester Castle in London’s Stoke Newington and the Gate House in Doncaster will remain part of the hospitality giant after being removed from sale.

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The Stoke Newington site, called The Rochester Castle, is the oldest Spoons in the country after opening in 1983.

A petition was launched to save the “vital community space” from closing.

Meanwhile, the Gate House in Doncaster has also been saved – that pub is on the site of the gatehouse of a medieval friary.

The pubs had been listed earlier this year as the giant sought to downsize its operation.

Another pub, The Spa Lane Vaults, located on St Mary’s Gate, was pulled from the market last week and will now remain open for good, according to Wetherspoons.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said at the time: “We can confirm that The Spa Lane Vaults pub in Chesterfield is no longer for sale.

“It will continue to run as a Wetherspoon pub. We are sure that this news will be welcomed by the pub’s staff and customers.”

A pub has been on the Stoke Newington site since 1702.

It was called the Green Dragon at first and in 1801 became the Rochester Castle.

The Sun named the pub one of the top 10 weirdest Wetherspoons in the country.

The announced sale of the Castle comes after Spoons also announced the sale of a popular Edinburgh pub.

The Foot of the Walk bar in Edinburgh’s Leith is also on the market following a sewer pipe bursting underneath the premises.

The chain – which has 827 pubs across the UK – warned last September it was putting dozens of its pubs up for sale.

In December, 20 Wetherspoons were up for sale with eight under offer, leaving fans gutted that their local branch could be lost forever.

The Percy Shaw in Halifax called last orders on January 7 after the venue was sold to a new owner.

Other pubs were up for sale in Battersea, Bristol, Peebles, and Shipley.

It comes as a number of UK pubs have closed their doors for good amid a turbulent economic backdrop.

Increased energy and wage costs are piling further pressure on businesses.

It comes as Wetherspoon reported a surge in sales in its half-year results, with revenue hitting almost £ 1billion.

For the 26 weeks ended 28 January 2024, like-for-like sales increased 9.9%, while revenue increased 8.2% to £991million.

Operating profit increased 81% £67.7m, while profit before tax surged 682% from £4.6million in the first half of 2023 to £36million.

Commenting on the results, Tim Martin, the chairman of JD Wetherspoon plc, said: “Sales continue to improve. In the last 7 weeks, to 17 March 2024, like-for-like sales increased by 5.8%.For the 26 weeks ended 28 January 2024, like-for-like sales increased 9.9%, while revenue increased 8.2% to £991m.

“The company continues to be concerned about the possibility of further lockdowns and about the efficacy of the government enquiry into the pandemic, which will not be concluded for several years.

“The company currently anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, subject to our future sales performance.”

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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk