Residents in a Yorkshire town fear that a new local Wetherspoon will bring 'drunkenness and unpleasant behaviour' to their area - and have told the chain owner Tim Martin to find somewhere else for his pub.
Disgruntled residents in the picturesque market town of Wetherby say that a new chain pub would 'devastate' local bars and restaurants, and they are pleading with JD Wetherspoon owner Martin to 'find somewhere more suitable in another town', suggesting Sheffield as an alternative.
Yorkshire Live says that plans are in motion for the pub giant to open a new branch in Wetherby, a town known for its floral displays, and which has a variety of independent bars, cafes and shops. JD Wetherspoon is currently exchanging contracts for the now vacant Sant’ Angelo building on High Street. The Italian restaurant closed down for good last month due to the rising energy costs.
The building is in the heart of the town. It previously operated as a pub called The Angel for many years, and is expected to be called that once again if Spoons takes over. Wetherspoon has said the company would be “happy” to meet with residents to discuss any concerns prior to opening if permission is granted. It has insisted the pub would be a “benefit” to the area, pointing out it will create 50 new jobs after they've spent £2.25 million to redevelop the venue.
Grandparents Christina and Derek Brown, 76 and 75 respectively, are worried about Wetherspoon and its clientele creating a “disturbance”. Retired head teacher Derek said: “I don’t like Wetherspoon. They tend to create a disturbance. There’s a lot of drunkenness and unpleasant behaviour.
“It would be detrimental to local businesses. It can’t be positive. We’ve got lots of facilities for eating and we’ve got some fantastic pubs. The high street is vibrant. We don’t need another pub.”
Asked what he would say to Mr Martin, Derek said: “Go and find another more suitable venue in another town. How about Sheffield or somewhere like that?”
Retired architect James Jones, 82, has doubts the “conservative” residents of Wetherby would visit a Wetherspoon pub. He said: “I’m very sad about Sant’ Angelos closing. Wetherspoon will be radically different – as long as the building is being used, I don’t mind. I’d go there for a quick pint to have a nose around but I don’t think it’s a place I’ll frequent.
“This is a very conservative town with their noses in the air, how he [Tim Martin] is going to appeal to people like that, I don’t know.”
David Atkinson, 68, thinks Wetherspoon will “corner the market” in Wetherby as he thinks the town has become "a bit dead". He said: "I think they’ll corner the market if they opened. Since the pandemic, my children think Wetherby is a bit dead so they go into Leeds [city centre] now. I think this will make it less dead because this is the heart of Wetherby.”
In response to the concerns raised, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon operates just under 850 pubs, many with local residents nearby.
“The company has built up a wide range of policies and procedures to ensure its pubs do not cause disturbance and noise to its neighbours. Should the company be granted the necessary permissions for the proposed pub, we will be happy to meet with local residents prior to opening to answer any questions that they might have.
“It is not our experience that when Wetherspoon opens a pub, that it has a negative effect on other businesses in a town. Instead, the pub can attract more visitors to the town centre, who will visit other shops and venues to the benefit of the area as a whole. Our proposed pub will also employ up to 50 people in full and part-time roles.”
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