JDW to shut three pubs permanently

The move follows recent announcements by the managed pubs and hotels operator that it has placed 39 pubs on the market.

The three sites set to shut are the Edmund Halley, in Lewisham, south London, which will close its doors on December 31; the Postal Order, in Worcester, set to serve its last pint on January 9; and the Willow Grove, in Southport, Merseyside, with an unconfirmed closure sate in early 2023. Further locations are reportedly set to close.

Mix of freeholds and leaseholds

In September, the pubco confirmed it was planning to sell 32 pubs​ after appointing CBRE and Savills to place the sites on the market.

JDW said it looking to dispose of 10 freeholds and 22 leasehold units.

At the time, JDW spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “On occasion, Wetherspoon does put some of its pubs up for sale. This is a commercial decision. We understand that customers and staff will be disappointed with it. The pubs will continue to operate as Wetherspoon outlets until they are sold.”

Encouraging interest

Last month, a further seven pubs were put up for sale​ as well with the same property agents.

Savills director Paul Breen said in November: “Despite the volatility in the current market, interest in the properties that went onto the market in September has been encouraging with terms now agreed for several of the sites. We expect these additional properties to be equally appealing.”

The pubs up for sale are:

Barnsley – Silkstone Inn

Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion

Bexleyheath – Wrong ‘Un

Bournemouth – Christopher Creeke

Cheltenham – Bank House

Crediton – General Sir Redvers Buller

Derby – Thomas Leaper

Durham – Water House

Fareham – Lord Arthur Lee

Fraserburgh – Saultoun Inn

Halifax – Percy Shaw

Hanham – Jolly Sailor

Harrow – Moon on the Hill

Hove – Cliftonville Inn

London Battersea – Asparagus

London East Ham – Miller’s Well

London Eltham – Bankers Draft

London Forest Gate – Hudson Bay

London Forest Hill – Capitol

London Hornsey – Toll Gate

London Hammersmith – Plough & Harrow

London Holborn – Penderel’s Oak

London Holloway – Coronet

London Islington – Angel

London Palmers Green – Alfred Herring

Loughborough – Moon & Bell

Loughton – Last Post

Mansfield – Widow Frost

Middlesborough – Resolution

Peebles – Cross Keys

Purley – Foxley Hatch

Redditch – Rising Sun

Sevenoaks – Sennockian

Southampton – Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis

Stafford – Butler’s Bell

Watford – Colombia Press

West Bromwich – Billiard Hall

Willenhall – Malthouse

Wirral – John Masefield