Wetherspoons announces exact date it will close historic pub’s doors for final time despite HUNDREDS of calls to save it
Pubgoers signed a petition to keep the boozer open
A BELOVED Wetherspoon pub will soon be closed for good despite hundreds of calls to save it.
It was revealed in January that the Foot of the Walk bar in Leith, Edinburgh, was going up for sale, but would continue trading until it officially changed hands.
Fans of the historic boozer now have just under three weeks left to enjoy it in its current state, as its final day of trading has been confirmed as November 3.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told : “We would like to thank our staff and customers for their loyalty to the pub over many years.
“Wetherspoon does, on occasion, sell pubs, and this is the situation here.”
The pub is named after its location at the end of Leith Walk.
It originally opened as the Palace picture house before turning into a snooker hall.
A Change.org petition was launched on January 23 this year with the aim of “preserving the Wetherspoons” pub. It gained more than 300 signatures.
Mark Harrington, who started the petition, wrote: “As a local resident of Leith, Edinburgh, I have cherished memories and experiences at Wetherspoons Foot of the Walk.
“This pub is more than just a place to enjoy a pint; it’s where we meet friends and family, share stories, and feel part of our community.
“It offers reasonably priced drinks and food in an atmosphere that feels like home to many locals.
“However, this beloved local institution is under threat.
“We cannot stand by as our community loses its character piece by piece.”
Earlier this month, Wetherspoons confirmed that 26 of its pubs have closed for good since July 2023, with five more at risk.
Pubs have closed in locations across the UK, including Stafford, London, Halifax and Penarth.
Wetherspoons regularly reviews the branches it has up for sale and has often taken venues off the market to continue operating as part of the pub chain.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
FREE refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.
Landlords could also find new tenants, so Wetherspoons’ departure doesn’t necessarily mean the loss of a pub for locals.
Wetherspoons, which has around 800 pubs across the UK, continues to draw crowds with ambitions openings.
A huge new £3.5million pub opened in the countryside town of Marlow, in Buckinghamshire, on September 24.
Plus, Wetherspoon opened its first pub at a holiday park at Haven’s Primrose Valley in Filey, North Yorkshire in March.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Wetherspoons boss Sir Tim Martin he is planning to ramp up plans to launch “Super Spoons” pubs – making existing sites even bigger.
