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Wetherspoons unveils plans for huge new London pub after 60 closures
Reach Daily Express | December 3, 2025 11:40 PM CST

JD Wetherspoons have bid to open a second pub at one of the UK's busiest stations. This comes after the company closed over 60 boozers in the past two years.

The new pub would be directly beside Charing Cross station, at 11 Strand, with capacity for 320 punters but no outdoor seating. The chain has lodged a planning application for the new site to open as early as 7am and close late until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

This could offer punters a late-night alternative to the Montagu Pyke, another Wetherspoons a few minutes walk from Charing Cross, which opened in 1996.

Locals have raised concerns over anti-social behaviour, higher congestion, and noise from the smoking area.

Wetherspoons' application promises no loud music, bouncers on the door daily, extra bar staff in opening weeks, and an early closing time at 10.30pm on Sundays, to reduce disruption to locals. Also offered are match-day management and dispersal plans.

The application will be reviewed by local interest groups, Westminster Council, and the Met Police before renovations can begin on the cafe and retail unit currently in the building.

Wetherspoons closed over 60 of its pubs across the UK in the last two years, many of which were sold off. Right now they run 794 pubs across the UK.

The company often puts its pubs up on the market to balance the sheets, and in October they boasted a rise of 4.5% in total sales.

Earlier this year they invested £25 million into their boozers, and opened their first boozer abroad in Spain's Alicante Airport.

They also plan to open four pubs in UK holiday parks owned by Haven, and recently launched two new London sites at London Bridge and Paddington.


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