Wetherspoons to open six new pubs in July

JD Wetherspoon has purchased six new sites, all former pubs and all set to open in July.

The sites, which were bought for an undisclosed sum, include the Thomas Leaper in Derby, the Lawrence Sheriff in Rugby, the Cordwainer in Northampton, the Queen's Hotel in Newport, and the Sawyer's Arms and the Chevalier Inn, both in Exeter.

All of the sites are former pubs. The Queen's Hotel has been bought from Regent Inns, the Thomas Leaper from Yate's and the Chevalier Inn is a former Hog's Head site.

Three of the sites, those in Derby, Northampton and the Chevalier Inn in Exeter will be run under the Lloyds No. 1 brand, while the Newport site will be run as a Wetherspoons Lodge.

The six sites will create over 200 jobs and cost approximately £600,000 each to refurbish.

The company confirmed it will purchase further pubs in the coming months.

Spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "All of the sites are former bars, pubs or hotels. We are well known for converting buildings such as former banks but in this case we have taken advantage of the situation in that there are lots of pubs closing or chains offloading premises.

"It has enabled us to be selective and focus on those sites that are in good locations and would take under 6 weeks and less than £600,000 to refurbish. We've not really gone down this route in the past but if it's a good site, it's in good repair and it's already a pub so that it's not necessary to go to planning for a change of use, then we see it as a good opportunity.

"We are already well represented in these towns but these sites are all in addition to the existing sites in these areas. We are not replacing any," he said.