Wetherspoons calls last orders at ‘best’ pub as 27 more at risk of closing down

WETHERSPOONS is due to call the last orders at a much-loved pub this weekend.

Fans of the Moon and Bell in Loughborough have just a couple of days left to have their final pint at the pub before it shuts.

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The boozer will shut for good at closure on Sunday, October 1.

Reacting to the news on social media, fans of the pub have been left devastated.

One punter said on Facebook: “What a loss the best Wetherspoons in Leicestershire.

“Fabulous selection of Real Ales. Lovely run pub by Dan the manager.

“Always has the best beer festivals with all 30 beers not many spoons do that I will miss that.”

Another said: “It’s always been busy when we’ve gone in – no matter what time of day!

“Definitely a better atmosphere than The Amber Rooms (another Spoons pub) too!

“Another sad loss for Loughborough.”

“Terrible news,” said a third customer.

The Sun recently revealed that Wetherspoons put a further 11 pubs up for sale only a year after it marketed 32 of its boozers.

Branches in Chesterfield, Doncaster and Cardiff are among those that have been put up for sale in the latest round of closures.

While many fans will be gutted to learn that more Spoons sites are set to disappear from the high street, new branches have been popping up across the country.

A spokesman for the chain said: “Wetherspoon is continuing to invest in its business and has recently reopened The Square Peg in
Birmingham and The Lord Palmerston in Southsea, after major refurbishment, costing approximately £1.5 million.

“The company is also currently redeveloping and extending pubs in Wakefield, central Cardiff and central Glasgow at a total cost of approximately £8 million.

“The company is also proceeding with plans for a number of new pubs and hotels as well as major upgrades to existing pubs involving a total investment of around £100 million.”

Which Wetherspoons pubs are up for sale?

Wetherspoons currently has 27 pubs up for sale – 17 are still available while ten are under offer.

This means that a buyer has presented an offer that is being considered by the seller.

It doesn’t mean that the sale is guaranteed, and it could still remain open if it doesn’t complete.

The 17 Wetherspoons that are currently up for sale are:

• The Pontlottyn, Abertillery
• The Ivor Davies, Cardiff
• Spa Lane Vaults, Chesterfield
• The Gate House, Doncaster
• The Market Cross, Holywell
• The Regent, Kirkby in Ashfield
• The Mockbeggar Hall, Moreton
• The Hain Line, St Ives
• The Sir Norman Rae, Shipley
• The Sir Daniel Arms, Swindon
• The White Hart, Todmorden
• Jolly Sailor, Hanham
• Resolution, Middlesbrough
• The Rising Sun, Redditch
• Sennockian, Sevenoaks
• Lord Arthur Lee, Fareham
• Plough & Harrow, Hammersmith

You can see the list of ten pubs that are under offer here:

• The Butlers Bell, Stafford
• Wrong ‘Un, Bexleyheath
• The Percy Shaw, Halifax
• The Alfred Herring, Palmers Green
• Foxley Hatch, Purley
• The Cross Keys, Peebles
• General Sir Redvers Buller, Crediton
• Asparagus, Battersea
• Millers Well, East Ham
• Coronet, London

Which Wetherspoons branches have already closed?

Wetherspoons has already closed 33 of its pubs since they went up for sale.

Many pub chains and retailers, has been hit hard by rising costs brought on by high inflation.

Wetherspoons’ boss Tim Martin also said far more people now drink in their homes rather than in pubs.

Here’s a full list of Wetherspoons branches that have been sold and closed in recent months:

• 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 Widow Frost, Mansfield
• The Worlds Inn, Romford
• Hudson Bay, Forest Gate
• The Saltoun Inn, Fraserburgh
• The Bankers Draft, Eltham, London
• The Sir John Arderne, Newark

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk