Wetherspoons to make ‘long awaited’ changes to several boozers next week

Wetherspoons is set to reopen several pubs next week, with the first pub reopening in just days, before two more open as early as next week, the pub chain has said

Wetherspoons is poised to reopen four boozers starting this week, with the pub chain confirming plans to bring back four establishments which abruptly shuttered earlier this year. The initial venue will welcome punters back within days, followed by two additional sites opening as soon as next week, the chain has announced.

The Thomas Ingoldsby establishment in Canterbury will commence trading from Friday, whilst the Sir Richard Owen in Lancaster will resume operations on September 2. That same date will see the Square Bottle throw open its doors once more in Chester, before the Claude du Vall in Camberley lifts its shutters on October 28.

The Lancaster establishment, which originally launched as a Wetherspoon venue in October 2001, has undergone significant improvements and expansion, featuring a substantial new beer garden, reports Birmingham Live.

Pub manager Tom Rossall explained: “The £2.4 million investment highlights Wetherspoon’s commitment to the pub and its staff and customers, as well as to Lancaster itself,”.

He continued: “We’re delighted that we have also been able to create 20 new jobs for local people.”

Tom added: “The team are looking forward to welcoming customers back into Sir Richard Owen and we’re confident that they will be impressed by the new-look pub as well as the new larger beer garden.”

The reopening is scheduled for Tuesday September at 8am, with the expanded beer garden ready to accommodate drinkers from Monday September 29.

This development comes as Wetherspoon anticipates a “reasonable” full year performance despite escalating staff expenses, with favourable weather conditions helping to boost recent takings. The pub chain, which operates 795 establishments throughout the UK, announced like-for-like sales had climbed 5.6% during the 13 weeks ending April 27.

Comparable sales increased by 5.1% across the group’s year-to-date period.

Chairman Tim Martin remarked: “Bearing in mind that recent trading has been helped by favourable weather, the company anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, notwithstanding previously reported wage and tax increases of approximately £1.2 million per week.”