After nearly 20 years of trading, a popular Wetherspoons will close its doors.
The Wild Rose on Stanley Road in Bootle will serve its final customers on Sunday and will be open "regular hours" until then. The pub, named in honour of Liverpool-born PM William Gladstone, has been a mainstay for the community in the area.
Wetherspoons have now confirmed the news and said they "appreciate" the disappointment to both "staff and customers".
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In a post on social media, one woman said: "Yes we are closing after nearly 20 years. It's a sad time. Many people love it there they meet up with their friends to socialise and reminisce about old times.
"I will be sad when we close our doors for the last time. Made some amazing friends and our customers are the best."
Another commented: "Gutted for the staff and of course all the customers. Right before Christmas too. Not that we were there a lot, but it always seems busy, doesn't make sense."
Mr Gladstone knew Bootle well in his youth. Born in Liverpool in 1809, spent part of his childhood at his father’s country house at nearby Seaforth, where many wealthy Liverpool merchants built villas. During his time as MP for South Lancashire, wrote “I have seen wild roses growing upon the very ground that is now the centre of Bootle”.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We can confirm that The Wild Rose pub, Bootle, is to close. Its final trading day as a Wetherspoon pub will be this Sunday when it will be open regular hours.
“We appreciate that both staff and customers will be disappointed with the decision, but Wetherspoon, does on occasion, close pubs. We thank our customers for their loyalty over the years and our staff for their service. All staff are being relocated to nearby Wetherspoon pubs.”
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