Giant boozer chain JD Wetherspoon has confirmed the opening dates for five new pubs – and the first one is within days. The chain is expanding its number of outlets – and there are a number opening before the end of 2025.

Eaerlier this month the boss of JD Wetherspoon has said the pub group will try to “keep price increases to a minimum” amid pressure from rising labour costs, despite reporting higher sales and profits over the past year.

The company, which operates nearly 800 pubs across the UK, has benefited from trading continuing to improve in recent months. It revealed it generated revenues totalling £2.13 billion for the year to July 27.

This was 4.5% higher than the year before, while sales on a like-for-like basis – which strips out the impact of pub openings and closures – rose by 5.1%.

This was driven by both bar and food sales growth, while hotel room sales dropped by nearly 12% after deciding to exit from online booking agents in the UK.

The new pubs will be opening from October – with the first on October 21.

Wetherspoons pub openings before 2026:

• Sigered, King of Essex, East Walk Basildon Opening: Tue 21 October
• The New Moor Farm, Cramlington, Tyne and Wear, Wed 5 November
• The Chiltern, Station Road, Beaconsfield, Tue 2 December
• The Hollybush Seam, Westerleigh Rd, Bristol, Wed 3 December
• The Angel Inn will open in Wetherby, Tues December 23.

There is still a chance of more openings of Wetherspoon’s before the end of the year. A date for the next Papas Group franchise in Stockton-on-Tees is also expected to be announced shortly.

It follows the opening of four new Spoon’s locations since the summer.

The Hykeham Manor, Roman Way, Lincoln

The Sir Alexander Fleming, Merchant Square, Paddington

Walham Green, Fulham Road, Fulham

The Dictum of Kenilworth, The Square, Kenilworth

Wetherspoon said: “Wetherspoon is opening new pubs across the UK and continues in seeking further sites. Inspired by local history, each pub has its own design, character and personality.

“Wetherspoon has been recognised, winning numerous design award competitions, and is renowned for transforming old and often-derelict buildings into beautiful, vibrant pubs.”

Speaking about the recent figures Wetherspoon’s chairman Sir Tim Martin said “younger people’s drinks” have been on the rise across its pubs – including cocktails and “trendy” spirits such as the Au Vodka brand.

“Real ale has made a comeback, with volumes challenging pre-pandemic levels,” he said. “Wine, which had been a bit slow, is at a record.”

Sir Tim also said that, across its food menu, chicken-based dishes were selling well, with Korean chicken a “big success” over the latest year, while breakfasts were continuing to rebound with a record-high volume of sales.

The group ran 794 pubs at the end of the financial year, and plans to open 15 managed pubs and 15 franchised pubs in the year ahead.

Sir Tim said increases to national insurance contributions and wages was adding about £60 million to the chain’s yearly costs, while it was also facing an impact from energy charges and new packaging taxes.

Wetherspoon employed an average of nearly 42,100 staff across its pubs and head office over 2025.

Wetherspoon fans are in for a treat as the popular pub chain announces plans to open 13 new outlets across the UK this year. With an existing portfolio of 796 venues, Wetherspoon is on track to surpass the 800 mark by the end of the year.

Already, two new pubs have been unveiled this year in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and at London Waterloo station. The company aims to launch seven more across the UK before summer arrives, with locations including Bath, London, and Manchester.

Furthermore, four additional pubs are scheduled to open at Haven Holiday Parks, increasing the total number of franchises to seven. This follows Wetherspoons’ announcement last January about its first pub at a Haven holiday park.

The Five Stones at Primrose Valley, Haven’s largest Yorkshire park, opened in March. The expanded agreement will see Wetherspoons extend its reach into Lincolnshire, Devon, Kent, and Northumberland, with these pubs expected to be up and running by spring 2025.

Here’s the full list of Wetherspoons pubs set to open this year:

• Manchester Airport – Terminal Two
• Fulham – Fulham Broadway Station
• Bath – George Street
• Beaconsfield – Station Road
• Wetherby – High Street
• Tooley Street – London Bridge
• Fareham – Whiteley shopping centre
• Cleethorpes Beach – Lincolnshire
• Devon Cliffs – Devon
• Kent Coast – Kent
• Haggerston Castle – Northumberland
• Marlow, Buckinghamshire (already open)
• London Waterloo station (already open)

JD Wetherspoon’s boss has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cut taxes on pub food in light of rising costs due to the Budget. The hospitality giant reported improved half-year sales, even as it sold off more pub properties.

Wetherspoon’s chairman, Tim Martin, has warned of a hefty £60 million increase in labour costs expected in April due to rising national insurance and minimum wage. He described the situation as “reasonable” yet highlighted that forecasting future performance is “difficult” with impending tax and wage increases.

In light of this, Mr Martin has renewed his call for VAT equality between food served in pubs and restaurants and that offered by supermarkets – where the latter enjoys zero VAT rates, allowing them to undercut pub beer prices significantly. “This tax advantage allows supermarkets to subsidise the price of beer they sell,” he pointed out.

The disparity, according to him, could mean more supermarkets and fewer pubs if not addressed. Hence, he’s urging Sir Keir Starmer to tackle this issue for fairer taxation and to avoid favouring mundane home gatherings over vibrant pub life.

The announcement comes as Wetherspoon enjoys escalating sales, disclosing a 5.1% year-on-year increase in like-for-like sales over the last 25 weeks up to January 19. Food sales were particularly solid, rising by 5.6%, while bar sales also fared well with a 4.5% uptick, softening the impact from a 6.5% slump in hotel room revenues.

Wetherspoon experienced a significant sales increase of 6.1% during the festive season, spanning from December 16 to January 5. Although this growth was notable, it fell short compared to its competitors, Marston’s and Young’s.

The pub chain reduced its portfolio to 796 pubs after selling off six locations while introducing two new ones. Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, observed: “After an impressive performance for most of 2024, it seems the mood music has changed at JD Wetherspoon, as it delivered a lacklustre Christmas performance that lagged behind peers and highlights a greater sense of uncertainty as we enter 2025.”