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Wetherspoons To Close Popular City-centre Pub As Seaside Branch To Shut In Days
WETHERSPOONS is set to close a popular city-centre pub as another seaside branch gears up to shut in just days.
The chain has confirmed it will call last orders at The Spon Gate in Coventry, named after one of the 12 gates in the city’s medieval wall.
WetherspoonsWetherspoons is closing The Spon Gate[/caption]An exact closure date is yet to be confirmed but it is understood staff will be offered roles elsewhere in the business.
Once The Spon Gate shuts, it will leave punters with just two other Wetherspoons pubs in Coventry.
A spokesperson for Wetherspoons said: “It is a commercial decision taken by Wetherspoon.
“We thank all our staff and customers over the years.”
News of the closure has shocked locals, with many posting their disappointment at the move on Facebook.
One said: “It’s the best one in town, not keen on the other two.”
A second commented: “The only decent place in Coventry for a nice meal and good priced drinks.
“So sad it’s to close, thank you for the brilliant service we have received over the years.”
A third chipped in: “Another bar closing. The city is dying fast.”
Meanwhile, a fourth added: “Another pub bites the dust.”
The Spon Gate closure comes ahead of another popular Wetherspoons branch on the coast shutting in days.
The Quay in Poole, Dorset, will call time on March 23 after buyers stepped in to take on the site.
The boozer, which sits inside a grade II listed building on the seafront, was taken over by Spoons in 1996.
Meanwhile, two other Spoons pubs were recently sold after being put on the market last October: The Hain Line in St Ives and Foot of the Walk in Leith.
Closure dates for these two pubs are yet to be revealed.
Last month, fresh figures published by the British Beer and Pub Association Association revealed around six pubs permanently closed every week last year, to the loss of 4,500 jobs.
The trade body found 289 boozers served last orders for the final time in 2024 across England and Wales.
It warned more pubs could shut this year too, with employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage being hiked.
From next month, the amount of NICs bosses have to pay on worker’s wages will rise from 13.8% to 15% while the threshold at which they have to pay them will fall from £9,100 to £5,000.
OTHER WETHERSPOONS NEWS
Wetherspoons has launched its annual Spring Beer Festival, with prices starting from £1.69.
The festival runs from March 5 to March 16 offering punters a selection of 30 international ales from across the globe.
The Wallaby, from Australia, is on tap, while customers can buy Estuary Session Ales, a Canadian tipple, or a chocolate porter from Italy.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.
You can find your nearest Spoons by visiting www.jdwetherspoon.com/pub-search.
Spoons also launched a £2.99 breakfast deal last month, with customers able to get a breakfast muffin or small breakfast with soft or hot drink.
There are also veggie options available, which is served between 8am and midday.
Meanwhile tea and toast, which comes with two slices and either jam or marmalade, is just £2.49.
It’s not been all good news for Wetherspoons punters in recent months though.
The pub chain exclusively revealed to The Sun in January it had increased the price of a host of drinks and meal deals by up to 30p.
The chain hiked prices on drinks by 15p while meal deals were bumped up by 30p.
The price rises saw the cost of a Guinness at the London and South Western branch in south west London go from £4.66 to £4.81.
Meanwhile, the price of a Strongbow increased from £3.24 to £3.39.
The average price of a meal deal at Spoons without an alcoholic drink was £4.99 and with a drink was £6.52 before the change.
But the 30p rise means they now cost £5.29 and £6.82, respectively.
Spoons said a number of drinks had not gone up in price, including all draught lagers such as Budweiser, Carling and Coors.
Spoons boss Tim Martin said the pub chain had “tried to remain as competitive as possible” with its pricing.
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