These are the 32 Wetherspoons pubs up for sale

A total of 32 Wetherspoons pubs are to be sold, the chain has announced.

The chain, founded by Tim Martin, operates 800 pubs across the UK. Wetherspoons previously stated it could face up to £30million in losses and described the announcement as a “commercial decision”.

The list of pubs up for sale includes nine sites in the capital, as well as locations in Cheltenham, Durham, Southampton, Watford and elsewhere.

The Capitol pub in Forest Gate, London is the only listed building among the 32 to be sold.

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In a statement, company spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “On occasion, Wetherspoon does put some of its pubs up for sale. This is a commercial decision.

The pub chain previously stated it could face up to £30millionCreative Commons

“We understand that customers and staff will be disappointed with it. The pubs will continue to operate as Wetherspoon outlets until they are sold.”

The pubs going up for sale are listed below.

• Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion
• Bexleyheath – Wrong ‘Un
• Bournemouth – Christopher Creeke
• Cheltenham – Bank House
• Durham – Water House
• 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 Holborn – Penderel's Oak
• London Islington – Angel
• London Palmers Green – Alfred Herring
• Loughborough – Moon & Bell
• Loughton – Last Post
• Mansfield – Widow Frost
• Middlesbrough – Resolution
• 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

The venues are being marketed by commercial property specialists CBRE and Savills.

“The excellent mix of locations in this portfolio is rarely seen in the market. With more than half of the portfolio located in London and the south-east and other strong locations in the south-west, Midlands and the north of England we believe the pubs represent an excellent opportunity for existing pub operators and new entrants,” CBRE senior director Tony Hall said.

Paul Breen, director at Savills commented: “Following the success of our earlier marketing campaigns for JD Wetherspoon we are delighted to be launching these 32 properties to the market.

The Capitol in London is a listed buildingCreative Commons

“These venues are well configured and fitted to a high standard which will make them appealing to a broad range of potential buyers.”

Boss and founder Tim Martin said: “When Covid-19 struck in early 2020, most governments, with the exception of Sweden, abandoned their WHO-approved pandemic plans and copied China's approach by ‘locking down.’

“There have been many unintended consequences. Large numbers of people, as has been widely reported, have left the workforce, mainly through early retirement.

“Many people now work from home, rather than from offices, which has had a significant impact on transport and hospitality businesses, among other examples.

“Wetherspoon has tried to take a long-term approach to these issues, investing heavily in the workforce, in buildings, in marketing and in contracts with landlords and suppliers, which will hopefully create a solid base for future growth. The company remains cautiously optimistic about future prospects.”

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