The pub giant has taken over former cinemas, snooker halls, banks, and train stations, as well as an old court house in Keswick and even a former lighthouse tower in Merseyside.
Wetherspoons, the beloved British pub chain, has become a go-to spot for many, whether it’s for a quick pint in the afternoon, a hearty English breakfast, endless cups of tea, or simply to enjoy the unique charm of each location.
Over time, Wetherspoons has transformed a variety of buildings into pubs, including former cinemas, snooker halls, banks, and train stations. They’ve even converted an old courthouse in Keswick and a former lighthouse tower in Merseyside into bustling watering holes. One of the most distinctive features of these venues is their carpets.
Whether it’s the rustic appeal or the traditional statement they make, each carpet is individually designed, often incorporating details related to the location or the building itself. Jon Randall, Wetherspoons’ head of property development, has previously emphasised the importance the chain places on the design of its pubs.
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A spokesperson for Wetherspoons told the the Manchester Evening News: “When founder and chairman Tim Martin created Wetherspoon in 1979, he wanted every pub to have its own atmosphere, including local art, photographs and an original, bespoke carpet.
“With the publication of an independent book dedicated to the subject and social media appreciation groups forming, the Wetherspoon carpets have since attracted a fan following, becoming a topic of conversation for many enthusiastic ‘collectors’.”
The carpets of Wetherspoons pubs have garnered a cult-like following online, with their own dedicated blog and Instagram account boasting over 5,500 followers. The Wetherspoons Carpets account has documented the unique floor coverings of more than 540 venues, inching closer to the total of 798 Wetherspoons establishments across the UK.
Recent research by Urmston Carpets has identified the top-rated Wetherspoon pubs in Greater Manchester, based solely on their carpets and the number of likes they’ve received on Instagram. According to the study, The Harbord Harbord in Middleton topped the local list with 104 likes.
Originally constructed as a clothes shop in the 1920s, the two-storey building also had a stint as a Woolworths before being transformed into a pub in the 70s. Named after Harbord Harbord, who later became Lord Suffield, the pub’s carpet features a wavy design that could potentially become slightly disorientating after a few late-night pints.
The Regal Moon in Rochdale, originally built as a Regal cinema in the 1930s, came second on the list with 99 likes. In a clear nod to its cinematic past, the pub’s carpets feature a regal brown pattern with gold and black detailing. Third place went to the Mardi Gras pub in the Trafford Centre, with 92 likes.
Trafford is also represented on the list with Bishop Blaize in Stretford in fourth place, which has been crowned the best Wetherspoon pub in the country for two consecutive years. The Castle in the Air pub at the Chill Factore claimed eighth spot, whilst The Unicorn in Altrincham secured ninth place, and The Tim Bobbin in Urmston landed in 11th position – all bringing honour to Trafford on the rankings.
The Sedge Lynn, housed within a former billiards hall constructed in Chorlton back in 1907, completed the top five with 87 likes, whilst The Ash Tree, situated in Ashton-under-Lyne, and the Up Steps Inn, located over in Oldham, trailed close behind.
Although the Wetherspoons floor coverings have attracted a devoted fanbase, the Urmston Carpets team has cautioned enthusiasts that replicating them in domestic settings would prove rather challenging.
Adrian Brown explained: “While Wetherspoons carpets have become something of a design icon, it’s important to remember that pub carpets are made very differently than what you’d typically find in a home. Commercial carpets are designed to handle thousands of footsteps a day, resist spills, and stand up to regular deep cleaning.
“They’re built for durability first. If you’re trying to recreate the look at home, choosing a patterned carpet, you’ll need to find a balance between visual impact and practicality.”
The leading Wetherspoons establishments in Greater Manchester ranked by their floor coverings.
The Harbord Harbord, Middleton.
The Regal Moon, Rochdale.
The Mardi Gras, Trafford Centre.
The Bishop Blaize, Stretford.
The Sedge Lynn, Chorlton.
The Ash Tree, Ashton-under-Lyne.
The Up Steps Inn, Oldham.
Castle in the Air, Chill Factore Trafford.
The Unicorn, Altrincham Eccles Cross, Eccles.
The Tim Bobbin, Urmston.
The Paramount, Manchester.
The J.P. Joule, Sale.
The Seven Stars, Manchester.
The Great Central, Fallowfield.
The Moon Under Water, Wigan.
The Waterhouse, Manchester.
Wetherspoons (Portland St), Manchester.
The Sir Thomas Gerard, Ashton-in-Makerfield.
The Society Rooms, Stalybridge.
The Ford Madox Brown, Manchester.
The Moon Under Water, Manchester.
The Calverts Court, Stockport.
The Gateway East, Didsbury.
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