Thank God for this,
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats...arebar_twitter
Extraordinary that such a building (hotel) remained closed for 66 years. Missed opportunities there, I would think.
Puts one in mind of the Sheffield Tap, a wonderful space mothballed or used as a maintenance cupboard for many decades. There must be lots of equivalent areas, in and around stations, waiting to be rescued. Probably good deals to be done with waterways (and adjacent land) too. And I don't mean by 'spoons!
20 pubs to go, list at bottom of the page:
Tue 30th Jun 2015 - JD Wetherspoon to sell 20 pubs
JD Wetherspoon to sell 20 pubs: JD Wetherspoon is to sell 20 pubs and has hired CBRE to handle the disposal. It is thought to be the largest package disposal by Wetherspoon in the past decade or so. The properties, which are being considered for sale either individually, in small packages or as a group, are located in prime town and city centre locations within England and Scotland. The outlets have strong exposure to London and the South with 14 of the 20 outlets located in these regions. Paul Breen, senior director in CBRE’s Specialist Markets team said: “It is extremely rare that a portfolio of this quality comes to the market with such a high concentration of outlets in affluent locations where opportunities are in scarce supply. As you would expect the units are fitted to a high standard significantly lowering the ingoing costs for any operator and we anticipate strong interest from a broad range of pub, bar and restaurant groups.” The pubs are as follows: The Almond Bank, Almondvale Boulevard, Livingston EH54 6HPl; The Assembly Rooms, Poplar Road, Solihull B91 3AD; Devonshire House, 2-4 The Broadway, Crouch End, London N8 9SN; The Edward Wylie, 107-109 Bothwell St, Glasgow G2 7JL; The Foxley Hatch, 8-9 Russell Hill Road, Purley CR8 2LA; The Gatehouse, 1 North Rd, Highgate, London N6 4BD; The Gatehouse, 1 Bird Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6PW; The Glass Works, Angel Central, Parkfield St, Islington, London N1 0PS; The Golden Lion, Cornhill, Ipswich IP1 1DB; The Isaac Pitman, Castle Place Shopping Centre, Castle Place, Trowbridge BA14 8AL; The Moon On The Square, 6 The Parade, Northampton NN1 2EA; The Moon Under the Water, 194 High Rd Balham, London SW12 9BP; The Oyster Rooms, Unit 3 First Floor, Fulham Broadway Centre, Fulham, London SW6 1AA; The Sennockian, 139-141 High Street, Sevenoaks TN13 1UX; The Swan Inn, High Street, Haselmere GU27 2HG; The White Lion of Mortimer, 125-127 Stroud Green Rd, London N4 3PX; The William Coppin, 2 Coppins Bridge, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2BX; The William Jolle, 53 The Broadway, Joel Street, Northwood Hills HA6 1NZ; The William Robert Loosley, 120-123 Oxford Road, High Wycombe HP11 2DN; The Windlesora, 11 William Street, Windsor SL4 1BB.
The Hope Tap survives again!!!
God knows how.
Of the ones on that list I've been in, most are small or quiet or, frankly, a bit toss.
Moon Under Water, Balham!!??
Ok, it hardly fits the eponymous Orwellian vision, but always seems to do a decent Spoon-style turnover.
Where the heck will I be able to nip in for a decent quick pint (usually 5 guests, ie in addition to ipa,abbot,ano.crap), before a train home after a Sainsbos or Waitrose smash and grab? Or nip back to when that train is cancelled?
Mind you, I now see psm mentioning Jaipur and Naked Ladies over the road at some ludicrously named gaff, but in poor condition (and certainly at much higher prices).
I've been to eleven of these, all but one in London & the Home Counties. It strikes me that they are all in affluent areas.
The Oyster Rooms and Glass House are both shopping centre pubs so it may be that the rent is just too high. The Devonshire House has
been open less than five years and I'm guessing that the demise of it and the White Lion of Mortimer less than a mile away is partly down to the Autumn opening of their new Mossy Well up the road. When I first went to the Devonshire House it was fairly soon after it opened and they were selling ESB and Pride at quite high prices. On subsequent visits it was more like a cheaper London Spoons.
This, the Foxley Hatch and the William Jolie are the only ones I will miss. Have they said when they are closing?
I am surprised the William Jolie is to close as its busy and that area is devoid of decent pubs.Not surprised about the Gatehouse as its in an expensive area, where Wetherspoon pubs are least appreciated. I am surprised that they own the Oyster Room as they are usually leasehold when in shopping centres.