Despite this closure, Wetherspoons has opened four new London pubs in recent months
East Londoners have slammed the closure of a Wetherspoons pub happening this weekend as ‘utterly ridiculous’ as they say they are ‘hardly blessed with many Spoons to begin with’. Drinkers have just a couple more days to enjoy a pint at Baxter’s Court in Hackney before it closes permanently on Sunday, November 2.
The popular pub chain loved for its affordable pints and meals has been shutting some of its smaller or more dated establishments over recent years, whilst continuing to open new sites. Nevertheless, locals have been left stunned by the announcement, with Hackney residents describing Baxter’s Court’s closure as a “shame”.
One customer remarked: “This part of London is hardly blessed with many Spoons to begin with.” Another enthusiast commented: “What a shame. I used to go there loads in college, loved the ‘roof terrace’ upstairs,” reports the Express.
“I’ve been going there for years, it’s one of the few affordable places left to meet friends without feeling rushed out. Losing it feels like the end of an era”, declared a third on Reddit.
The shutdowns don’t end there, as The Water Gate in Barnstaple will cease trading on November 9. Both pubs, alongside four others – The Kentish Drovers in Peckham, The Babington Arms in Derby, The Grey Friar in Preston and The William Jameson in Sunderland were placed on the market by Wetherspoons in June.
The remaining four will carry on operating as Wetherspoons until they’re sold. A spokesperson for Wetherspoons stated that the company has been “streamlining its portfolio”, offloading smaller or older pubs while investing in new openings across the UK.
Just last month, Wetherspoons confirmed a franchise agreement with The Papas Group to launch 15 new pubs, including one at Gateway Park in Lincoln on the site of a former Brewers Fayre. Additional locations in Annitsford, Stockton-on-Tees, and Emersons Green are also slated to open by the end of November.
Full list of Wetherspoons recent openings and pubs coming soon
You can check out an updated list of openings for this year below:
- Marlow, Buckinghamshire – already open
- London Waterloo Station – already open
- The Conister Arms, Douglas, Isle of Man- already open
- Walham Green, Fulham Broadway – already open
- Dictum of Kenilworth, Warwickshire – already opening
- The Sun Wharf, Tooley Street, London Bridge – opened in September
- The Sir Alexander Fleming, Paddington – opened in September
- The King of Essex in Basildon – opened in September
- The Chiltern, Beaconsfield – opening December 2
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