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Wetherspoons to close another 22 pubs despite already shutting 28 this year

The chain has denied it is part of a ‘money-raising exercise’ amid rising energy costs

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JD Wetherspoons & Mike Peel / Wikimedia

Wetherspoons has put a further 22 pubs up for sale after already selling 28 of its sites this year.

The pub giant plans to offload more venues in a huge overhaul of its estate but it has denied it is part of a ‘money-raising exercise’ amid rising costs of food and energy, which has been leaving many businesses struggling to keep up.

Instead, Wetherspoons said ‘almost all’ of sites it had put up for sale already had another venue ‘nearby’. 

From the 28 pub closures, Wetherspoons bosses say it has made a ‘modest amount’ from these sales.

JD Wetherspoon

The Pre-Close Trading Agreement reads: “In fact, the disposals have raised relatively modest amounts (although every little helps) and almost all are related to circumstances, as outlined above, where there is another Wetherspoon pub nearby.”

There are 22 pubs that remain on the market, or are under offer. The company currently has a trading estate of 827 pubs. Wetherspoons also shared it had made profits when compared to the previous year. 

Compared to the financial year of 2022, the company’s like-for-like sales increased by 11.5% in the fourth quarter to date and by 12.9% in this financial year to date. 

Mike Peel / Wikimedia

The brand also hasn’t confirmed which of its sites are set to shut, leaving customers wondering if last orders will be served for good at their local Spoons.

The chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, said: “The company expects profits in the current financial year to be in line with market expectations.

“As a result of a continued improvement in sales and a slightly reduced expectation for cost increases, for example energy costs, the company anticipates an improved outcome for the next financial year, and anticipates an outcome for the first half of FY24 approximately in line with the second half of FY23.”

JD Wetherspoon

While a confirmed list of Wetherspoons pubs set to shut down is yet to be announced, the venues up for sale have been spotted online.

Pubs under offer:

  1. Asparagus – Battersea
  2. General Sir Redvers Buller – Crediton
  3. Millers Well – East Ham
  4. The Bankers Draft – Eltham
  5. Hudson Bay – Forest Gate
  6. Capitol – Forest Hill
  7. The Saltoun Inn – Fraserburgh
  8. The Percy Shaw – Halifax
  9. Coronet – Holloway
  10. The Alfred Herring – Palmers Green
  11. The Cross Keys – Peebles
  12. Foxley Hatch – Purley
  13. The Butlers Bell – Stafford
  14. The Widow Frost – Mansfield
Wikimedia

Pubs ‘available’ for sale:

  1. Lord Arthur Lee – Fareham
  2. Plough & Harrow – Hammersmith
  3. Jolly Sailor – Hanham
  4. World’s Inn – Romford
  5. Sennockian – Sevenoaks
  6. Former Tusk Nightclub & Waverly Tea Rooms – Watford
  7. Wrong ‘Un – Bexleyheath
  8. Moon on the Hill, Harrow
The Waterhouse

Pubs already sold:

  1. The John Masefield, New Ferry
  2. Angel, Islington
  3. The Silkstone Inn, Barnsley
  4. The Billiard Hall, West Bromwich
  5. Admiral Sir Lucius Curtis, Southampton
  6. The Colombia Press, Watford
  7. The Malthouse, Willenhall
  8. The John Masefield, New Ferry
  9. Thomas Leaper, Derby
  10. Cliftonville, Hove
  11. Tollgate, Harringay
  12. Last Post, Loughton
  13. Harvest Moon, Orpington
  14. Alexander Bain, Wick
  15. Chapel an Gansblydhen, Bodmin
  16. Moon on the Square, Basildon
  17. Coal Orchard, Taunton
  18. Running Horse, Airside Doncaster Airport
  19. Wild Rose, Bootle
  20. Edmund Halley, Lee Green
  21. The Willow Grove, Southport
  22. Postal Order, Worcester
  23. North and South Wales Bank, Wrexham
  24. The Sir John Stirling Maxwell, Glasgow
  25. The Knight’s Templar, London
  26. Christopher Creeke, Bournemouth
  27. The Water House, Durham
  28. The Worlds Inn, Romford

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Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries

Fancy a career change?

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Stagecoach

Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.

You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.

Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.

As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.

Stagecoach

There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.

Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.

“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.

“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”

Stagecoach

Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.

“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”

To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.

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Two men charged with murder after torso discovered in Salford nature reserve

BREAKING:

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Greater Manchester Police

Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.

As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.

This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.

Greater Manchester Police


Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.

They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.

While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.

ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.

“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.

“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.

“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.

“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.

“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”

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More human remains discovered in Greater Manchester as police identify victim

All the latest updates

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N Chadwick / Geograph

Detectives investigating the discovery of a torso in Kersal Dale have found more human remains around Greater Manchester.

GMP released a statement on the weekend, revealing they had opened four scenes for extensive searches – one of them at a warehouse in Bury, and three in Salford.

Searches took place at Blackleach reservoir, where human remains were found, and a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood.

Officers believe they have now identified the man, who they believe to be a man in his 60s that lived in Salford, and his family have been informed.

Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder probe, with officers saying they are thought to have lived with the victim.

Greater Manchester Police / Facebook


Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for this investigation, said in a statement at Blackleach reservoir yesterday, Sunday April 28th: “We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.

“From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.

“Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford.

“Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.

“We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.”

He continued: “We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.

“Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.

“We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.

“While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.

“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”

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