The list of Wetherspoons pub closures is from the August/September 2015 issue of CAMRA London’s London Drinker magazine
Its a reminder that Wetherspoons pub closures are nothing new, but rather an unfortunate tradition. There are plenty of Spoons haters out there mostly due to some of the thoughts of Spoons boss Tim Martin. In addition Spoons doesnt recognise a union, just like every other pub co unfortunately.
The reasons for Spoons closures are often opaque. Sometimes it seems to relate to small older pubs where maintenance costs are high (and Spoons do actually maintain their pubs). In a recent wave of closures it related to the opportunistic way Spoons have been opened sometimes to find two close to each other in competition.
The latest closure, Baxters Court in Hackney (25th August reportedly) is a puzzle since its a modern premises opened in 2003. However unlike Brewdog who recently shut 10 bars due to poor trading, Spoons trades well and continues to open often large venues. A new pub at Fulham Broadway station is now open and London Bridge is due in September.
Whatever Spoons pub often provides spaces for those with a limited budget to sit a spend a few hours and far from all are Farage fans. The Reform owner is a drinker of fine wine, beer like Harold Wilson’s pipe is for show only.
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