Forum topic: Time, please, ladies and gentlemen!

They say all good things come to an end. No doubt opinions are divided as to whether the large Wetherspoons pub in the centre of PG's high street is a good thing or not, but it's now clear that it is coming to an end imminently - this weekend in fact. Just one among a large number of JDW venues that have closed in recent times or are due to close soon. Clear-outs of older pubs to make way for new openings is part of Tim Martin's established business pattern.

If Wikipedia is to be believed, the Alfred Herring opened in 2006, so not long before my wife and I moved to PG, but because it was already here when we arrived I've always thought of it as a long established fact. I knew that it had replaced another Wetherspoons pub further north, but didn't realise that it had happened so recently.

According to Savills, the Alfred Herring is under offer, so hopefully this big gap in our high street will be plugged before too long.

This is one of the better Wetherspoon pubs.
At the end of the day, price matters.
The other pubs in the area are rubbing their hands.
 

Someone who has been in there reports that the staff are unaware of a change of ownership, or an impending shutdown. They are surely legally entitled to more than 2 days notice.
Are you sure of your facts, Basil?
 

The closing of the Alfred Herring along with over 30 other Wetherspoon pubs was announced quite a while ago with a new development proposed mainly upstairs. No closure timing was given back then. Also in Wanstead Wetherspoons announced the closure of The George which is magnificent Edwardian pub on the high street with a bit of notoriety concerning the previous owners and it is so popular (I have been there many times) that the locals have put a petition together which has already attracted over 3,000 signatures and it is always busy so the closure may be related to renewing the lease or something like that.
 

A dense fog of uncertainty seems to surround PG’s Wetherspoons: earlier this week I heard it had seen a reprise from its well publicised sale plan; by mid week two bar staff had told  a friend it was to close imminently with them being relocated to alternate outlets; a local publican subsequently confirmed same, adding rumour had it the (pretty long established) proposed buyer had pulled out; whereas the selling agents still has it “under offer”. search.savills.com/property-detail/gb0456l118505


I guess we will all know come Monday. Until then this w/e may be the last local chance of a full English with unlimited coffee for a little over a fiver. I imagine the meal-deal of same but with a pint to be a tad more expensive.

Probably worth repeating this link to the story from January this year:  
www.pgweb.uk/planning-all-subjects/pg-town-centre-improvements/3822-new-town-centre-business-applies-for-3am-alcohol-licence