Wetherspoons shuts more of its iconic pubs – see if your local is affected
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Wetherspoons regulars have been dealt a major blow as the British pub chain closed down more locations. The chain, owned by Brit businessman Tim Martin, has parted with dozens of locations in recent years as the service industry continues to struggle from economic woes caused by Covid, inflation, and cost-of-living pressures.
Wetherspoons' sales topped £2billion for the first time last year, up from £1.9billion in 2023. Yet the chain still parted with several locations last year, with three having exchanged hands since September, two of which have closed their doors. The London Economic reported last year that the Sir Daniel Arms, in Swindon, The George, in Wanstead and Hain Line in St Ives had exchanged by September. Two of those locations - the Hain Line and the George - have since closed their doors, while the Sir Daniel Arms remains open for business.
The Cornish Hain Line shut on October 7 last year, around a year after it was marked for sale by JD Wetherspoon following a "commercial decision" prompted by higher food and energy costs. The George closed as a Wetherspoons pub around a week later on October 13 after being bought by the Urban Pubs and Bars chain.
The chain plans to convert the former Wetherspoons site into the George and Dragon, the name the location went by in 1904. Urban Pubs and Bars said in a statement: "We are delighted to be able to rescue this much loved pub, a place that has been part of Wanstead’s history since 1716.
