WETHERSPOONS is set to shut the ‘best’ city centre pub in just a few hours.
Punters have been left gutted by the closure of the fan favourite boozer.
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The Spon Gate in Coventry is a favourite among locals and is set to close for good tomorrow, May 25.
Two other spoons still serve the city with The Flying Standard and The Early of Mercia remaining in operation.
The Spon Gate was a favourite among locals though and was called the “best” city centre pub.
Wetherspoons have said that it was a commercial decision to close the pub.
Locals were left gutted by the move with many losing their favourite boozer in town.
They took to social media when the closure was announced to express their sadness.
Despite the upset the pub closure is going ahead tomorrow and the Spon Gate will shut up shop for the last time.
It comes as a wave of closures have hit UK pubs recently, figures published by the British Beer and Pub Association revealed around six pubs closed every week.
The data, released last month, suggested that with the closure of six boozers a week came the loss of 4,500 jobs.
In 2024, according to the trade body, 289 pubs called last orders for the final time across England and Wales.
Even more pubs are expected to shut down in the coming year with the employer National Insurance contribution hike and the national minimum wage increase hitting the businesses hard.
To cope with the increased running costs pubs are forced to increase their prices.
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Wetherspoons revealed exclusively to The Sun in January that it had increased the price of several drinks by 15p and meal deals by 30p.
Wetherspoons said a number of drinks, though, had not gone up in price including all draught lagers like Budweiser, Carling and Coors.
Boss Tim Martin said the pub chain had “tried to remain as competitive as possible” with its pricing.
Speaking on the closure of The Spon Gate a Wetherspoons spokesperson said: “It is a commercial decision taken by Wetherspoon.
“We thank all our staff and customers over the years.”
Prior to becoming a Wetherspoons pub, The Spon Gate was a Chicago Rock Cafe on Spon Street, near St John’s Church.
The gate from which it derived its name was demolished in 1771, after surviving Charles II left it as one of the remaining wall gates in 1662.
The pub has since kept photographs and drawings decorated around its walls to show Coventry’s medieval history.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
FREE refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.
