JD Wetherspoon eyes 1,000+ UK locations, seeks franchise partners for expansion

UK – Leading pub chain JD Wetherspoon has announced it is actively seeking franchise partners as it pursues an ambitious growth strategy to surpass 1,000 locations across the UK.

JD Wetherspoon is accelerating its expansion through a targeted franchising strategy, marking a notable shift in the pub chain’s growth model.

The company has appointed property specialists Christie & Co to identify suitable franchise partners, primarily hoteliers, who can convert underused or existing hospitality spaces into Wetherspoon-branded pubs.

This initiative aims to support operators in enhancing profitability by offering access to Wetherspoon’s established supply chains, design and fit-out expertise, comprehensive staff training, and marketing support.

While hotel operators remain the primary focus, Wetherspoon has also welcomed interest from other sectors seeking to diversify or revitalize their assets.

The strategy follows a string of successful franchise openings, beginning with the first at Hull University’s student union in January 2022.

Since then, Wetherspoon has launched franchises at Newcastle University (September 2023) and Haven’s Primrose Valley Holiday Park in Filey, North Yorkshire (March 2024).

The group expects five additional franchise pubs to open in the latter half of fiscal year 2024/25.

Christie & Co will also accompany Wetherspoon to the International Franchise Show at Excel London on 11 and 12 April 2025 to engage with potential partners.

Simon Chaplin, senior director at Christie & Co, said, “We are delighted to be assisting such a powerful brand as Wetherspoon in using this route to expand.”

“We have considerable hospitality expertise across the UK which, combined with our work in franchising, should help us secure a number of new Wetherspoon franchisees in the coming months, with several conversations already underway.”

In another major move, Wetherspoon has announced the opening of The Conister Arms in Douglas, Isle of Man, set for 14 May 2025.

The venue, formerly home to 1886 Bar and Grill, will undergo a full transformation. James Thompson, CEO of Thompson Holdings, noted that current staff had been offered roles, and the revamped four-storey venue will create around 120 new jobs.

Thompson described the decision as vital for the future of Douglas’s high street, citing the challenges facing the island’s hospitality sector.

“Hospitality has become unaffordable for too many,” he said, “and the only real solution is to get prices down and keep them down.”

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