Wetherspoon is expanding with 13 new pubs this year, including locations in London and Manchester. Exciting times for pub lovers!
By summer, they plan to add seven more pubs in cities like Bath and Manchester. Plus, four new venues will pop up at Haven Holiday Parks, bringing their total franchises to seven.
The Five Stones at Primrose Valley opened in March, and they’re expanding into Lincolnshire, Devon, Kent, and Northumberland by spring 2025.
Here’s the full list of new pubs: Manchester Airport, Fulham, Bath, Beaconsfield, Wetherby, Tooley Street, Fareham, Cleethorpes Beach, Devon Cliffs, Kent Coast, Haggerston Castle, Marlow, and London Waterloo.
Wetherspoon’s chairman, Tim Martin, is urging the Prime Minister to cut taxes on pub food. He’s worried about rising costs and a £60 million increase in labor expenses coming soon.
He wants equal VAT treatment for food in pubs compared to supermarkets, which could help level the playing field.
Despite some challenges, Wetherspoon reported a 5.1% increase in sales recently, thanks to a boost in food sales. They saw a festive lift over Christmas, but they’re still behind some competitors.
Julie Palmer from Begbies Traynor noted a shift in mood for Wetherspoon, highlighting uncertainty as they head into 2025. It’s a mixed bag, but there’s still plenty to look forward to for pub lovers!
