God, I hate being the bearer of bad news.
But here we are in 2025, and Wetherspoons just dropped their annual "who lives, who dies" list for pubs across the UK. Spoiler alert: it's not pretty for everyone. I've been tracking this chain for years (my mate Dave calls it an unhealthy obsession), and this year's shake-up feels different. More brutal, somehow.
The Casualties Are Real This Time
Let's start with teh gut punch. The Grey Friar in Preston? They're selling it. Just like that. The place where half of Preston probably had their first legal pint is now sitting on the market like a sad "For Sale" sign on your childhood home.
Here's what really gets me though - they're keeping it open while they hunt for a buyer. So you can still grab your usual spot by the window, knowing full well you're drinking in a pub that's essentially already dead. The staff won't lose their jobs (they'll get shuffled to other locations), but honestly? That doesn't make the whole thing less depressing.
One regular posted online: "Happy memories starting our Friday nights in Greyfriars… it will be missed." Poor bastard.
Barnstaple's About to Get Screwed
The Water Gate in Barnstaple is next on the chopping block. They're putting it up for sale next week, and if nobody bites? Lights out. Game over. No more £2.50 pints for the locals.
I drove through Barnstaple last summer (don't ask why), and The Water Gate was packed even on a Tuesday afternoon. Shows you how much foot traffic matters when corporate decides your fate.
London's Getting the Runaround (Again)
Now here's where it gets properly annoying. Remember all that hype about the new London Bridge location? HOAR Wharf on Tooley Street, built in the old London Dungeons spot? They promised August 26th. Then they said "actually, we're opening two days early!"
Plot twist: it's now September 2nd.
Listen, I get that opening a pub is complicated. But promising to open early and then delaying by a week? That's just taking the piss. My editor bet me £20 that they'd miss their deadline again - looks like I owe him a pint.
The Full Damage Report
Here's every opening that's actually happening this year (assuming they don't change their minds again):
Already open: Marlow in Buckinghamshire, London Waterloo Station, and The Conister Arms in Douglas, Isle of Man. At least somebody's getting new drinking holes.
Coming soon (maybe): Walham Green in Fulham Broadway opens July 8th. The Dictum of Kenilworth in Warwickshire opens July 29th. HOAR Wharf finally opens September 2nd. The Sir Alexander Fleming in Paddington opens September 23rd. The King of Essex in Basildon opens September 30th (was supposed to be September 23rd, naturally). And The Chiltern in Beaconsfield opens December 2nd.
That's nine new pubs total. Not terrible, but not exactly an expansion spree either.
Who's Getting the Axe
The death list is mercifully short this year. The Grey Friar in Preston is on the market. The Water Gate in Barnstaple is about to be. And The Spon Gate in Coventry closes in May 2025.
Three closures, nine openings. On paper, that's growth. In reality? It's three communities losing their local gathering spot.
What This Actually Means
Look, delays happen. I've watched enough pub openings get pushed back to know that contractors lie, permits take forever, and sometimes the beer taps just don't work properly on opening day.
But there's something about this whole situation that feels... calculated? Like they're being extra careful about which locations get the green light and which ones get the boot. Can't blame them - running a pub chain in 2025 isn't exactly easy money.
Still doesn't make it any less frustrating when your local gets turned into another chain restaurant or, worse, luxury flats.
If your regular Spoons is on the closure list, maybe grab one last pint there while you can. And if you're waiting for one of those new openings? Don't hold your breath on the exact dates.
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How To
How To Create a Personal Budget That Works
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Did you miss our previous article...
https://hellofaread.com/money/this-12digit-code-could-get-you-thousands-more-in-child-support-and-why-im-honestly-mad-it-took-me-this-long-to-figure-out
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