JD Wetherspoon has confirmed it will open 11 new pubs before the end of November, with the first opening on August 12 and locations spanning airports, city centres, and university campuses. The British pub chain, which operates over 800 venues across the UK and Ireland, announced the openings as part of its expansion plan, despite reporting slower-than-expected sales growth and a profit warning in July.
Openings Begin with Home Farm in Hessle
The first pub, Home Farm, opened on August 12 in Hessle, near Hull. The pub takes its name from a nearby country estate farm, reflecting the area's rural past, which is echoed today by Home Farm Cottages in the locality. Hessle grew through industries such as chalk-quarrying and shipbuilding before the Humber Bridge opened in 1981, transforming cross-estuary links.
On September 1, The Marshfield Bank Farm House in Crewe will open on the site of the former Farmhouse Beefeater. Two airport outlets are also planned: The Belle Vue at Manchester Airport (opening September 8) and Sant Jordi at Barcelona Airport (opening in November).
Full List of Wetherspoon Openings
- Home Farm, Hessle – Opened Wed August 12, Ferriby Rd, Hull, Hessle
- The Marshfield Bank Farm House, Crewe – Opening Tue September 1, Coppenhall Lane, Woolstanwood, Crewe
- The Red Gown, St Andrews University – Opening Fri September 4, Students' Association, St Andrew University
- The Heath Hotel, Southampton – Opening Tue September 8, Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu, Southampton
- The Belle Vue, Manchester Airport – Opening Tue September 8, Terminal 2 (Airside)
- The Cranborne Hundred, Ferndown – Opening Wed September 16, Ringwood Road, Ferndown
- The Fletton Brick, Bedford – Opening Tue September 29, Marsh Leys Cottages, Kempston
- Piccadilly Hall, Piccadilly – Opening Tue October 13, The Trocadero, 30 Shaftesbury Avenue, London
- Sant Jordi, Barcelona Airport – Opening November, Terminal 1 (Airside – Schengen Area)
- The William Chambers, Edinburgh – Opening Tue November 3, 30a Chambers Street, EH1 1HU
- The Benjamin Franklin, Charing Cross – Opening Tue November 24, 11 Strand, London
Design and Investment
In a statement, Wetherspoon said: “Each pub has its own design, character and personality, based on local history. Recognised for transforming old buildings into vibrant pubs, Wetherspoon has won numerous design awards.” Many of the chain's pubs are located in converted unconventional premises, such as former banks and cinemas.
The openings follow the launch of The Sir Frank Whittle at Heathrow Airport in July, a £3.5 million pub that is said to have created 100 new jobs.
Financial Context and Profit Warning
The expansion comes after Wetherspoon reported sales growth of 4% in the three months to July 19, compared with the same period last year. However, founder and chairman Tim Martin told investors: “Profits for the year are likely to be below market expectations, with marginally lower sales than anticipated in the final quarter, combined with higher costs in the areas of food, labour, repairs, energy and business rates.”
The chain previously said it was facing £60 million of extra costs linked to wage increases and National Insurance contributions for the year. Wetherspoon operates 793 managed pubs and 23 franchise sites across the UK. The new openings represent a vote of confidence from the chain despite the financial headwinds, bringing its total estate to over 800 venues.
