Wetherspoons puts 32 pubs up for sale as food and labour costs rise
JD Wetherspoon has announced it is selling 32 pubs due to rising food and energy costs and a lack of staff.
The pub chain, which has around 300 pubs and hotels in the UK and Ireland, said it made the decision because it was at risk of millions of pounds in upkeep and increased wages.
Eddie Gershon, its spokesman, 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."
The pubs are in city centres across England, with 10 in London, including in Battersea and Islington.
In May Tim Martin, the chain's boss, announced a series of widespread changes to the business as a result of increasing costs.
This included a rise in drink prices of 10p for a pint across the country and 20p in London.
The sales are being handled by commercial property specialists CBRE and Savills.
Toby Hall, senior director at CBRE, said: "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 North we believe the pubs represent an excellent opportunity for existing pub operators and new entrants".
The pubs up for sale:
Barnsley - Silkstone Inn
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
Middlesborough - 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
