Wetherspoon to shut another pub next month after string of closures

31 August 2023 , 12:50

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The Widow Frost in Mansfield will be closing its doors next month (Image: J D Wetherspoon)

Wetherspoon is shutting the doors on another one of its pubs in the next few weeks.

The Widow Frost on Leeming Street in Mansfield will close for the final time on September, 22. The notice came from a sign on the bar which read: "We sadly announce The Widow Frost is now closing on September 17, 2023. We are all hoping, but not promising, to see you all round at the Stag & Pheasant.”

The pub chain confirmed that there would be no redundancies with the closure of the site as all staff would be transferring to other Wetherspoon pubs across Mansfield, Worksop, Sutton and Kirby.

According to a report by the local news publication The Chad, the pub may not be closing forever as negotiations to sell the pub are ongoing. In a statement from Eddie Gershon for Wetherspoon to the Chad, the Widow Frost could open again in around "four or so" months before being reopened by the new owner.

The statement said: "There will be no redundancies, staff will be transferring to Wetherspoon pubs in Mansfield, Worksop, Sutton or Kirkby. We believe the premises will be closed for four, or so, months before being opened by the new owner, but we cannot confirm these details.”

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The Widow Frost was one of around 30 pubs put up for sale by the pub chain last September. The pub chain said that “almost all” of the pubs being shuttered were in areas where they had another one close by.

At the time, the pub chain said the move was a "commercial decision" and noted that it was a "misinterpretation" to suggest the move was down to difficult trading conditions and that the "disposals" had only raised a "modest amount". It also noted that lower costs are set to boost its performance in the next financial year.

In its July trading update, Wetherspoon said it had already sold 28 sites this year and a further 22 were still on the market. As of last month, Spoons said that it had 827 pubs across the UK.

Two pubs have closed over the last month with the Saltoun Inn in Fraserburgh, Scotland, shutting for good on July 30 and The Bankers Draft in Eltham, London, closing on August 20.

Ruby Flanagan