New £1.6MILLION Wetherspoons to open next week with massive 2,100 square foot beer garden and complete refurb
A NEW £1.6million Wetherspoons is set to welcome punters next week with a huge 2,100 square foot beer garden.
As the days feels warmer and sunny evenings grow longer, Brits flock to their local boozers - but they may be about to find a new favourite.
The William Dampier pub, in Yeovil, Somerset, will be opening their doors for the first time in three months on Tuesday April 8.
Locals have waited since January to enjoy a drink at the pub after it went under a massive renovation.
The £1.6million refurb is set to boast a 2,100 square foot beer garden, as part of an extension which is also creating 500 square foot of extra space for customers.
Inside, the whole venue has been given a facelift with a new unique carpet as well as updated furniture.
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The project will also see 35 full and part-time jobs created at the site.
Pub manager James Currell said: “The £1.6 million investment highlights Wetherspoon’s commitment to the pub and its staff and customers, as well as to Yeovil itself.
“We are delighted that we have also been able to create 35 new jobs for local people.
“The team are looking forward to welcoming customers back into The William Dampier and we’re confident that they will be impressed by the larger beer garden and new-look pub.”
The William Dampier will be open from 8am until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 1am on Friday and Saturday.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are delighted to have started development work at our Yeovil pub.
"We believe the addition of a new garden and updated interior will be welcomed by customers and staff. We look forward to welcoming customers into the new-look pub.”
The reno plans were given the green light in June last year, after plans were submitted in March.
Mickey Green, the council's executive director for climate and place, said when approving the scheme: "The proposal represents an acceptable change of use of a small portion of the existing service yard, and would provide for a permanent external seating arrangement for this well-established public house situated in Yeovil's town centre.
"It is not considered such which would harm the vitality and viability of the town centre.
"The proposal would cause no harm to the character and appearance of the area; and would not adversely effect residential amenity or highway safety."
This comes as the top 20 Wetherspoons in the UK were revealed - is your local on the list?
Plus, the top 10 most beautiful venues have been decided - take a look inside.
And, for any happy holidaymakers - the best airport Spoons in the UK have been ranked.
Wetherspoons expansion
Despite more permanent closures across the UK, the much-loved chain is still aiming to claim 1,000 venues.
Boss Sir Tim Martin is determined to build on his current 814 strong fleet - a decrease from 951 in 2015.
As reported by The Times, he said: “We’ve sold a number of pubs over the years, especially where we’ve opened two pubs close to each other in small or medium-sized towns.
“We’ve also surrendered a number of leasehold pubs to the landlord, where leases have come to the end.
"We have 814 pubs today and estimate there is potential for about 1,000.
"Although there have been some disposals, sales are nearly a billion pounds higher than ten or 11 years ago.”
Just recently, the chain has told the Sun that one of its Poole pubs will be put on the market.
And, The Percy Shaw in Halifax called last orders on January 7 after Wetherspoon sold the venue to a new owner.
It comes as a number of UK pubs have closed their doors for good amid a turbulent economic backdrop.
Increased energy and wage costs are piling further pressure on businesses.
Wetherspoons' boss Tim Martin also said far more people now drink in their homes rather than in pubs.
The chain has even been forced to hike up prices for the second time in just six months.
Bosses have confirmed food and drink prices have been ratcheted up by almost 4% – after the previous rise last August.
Pub company J D Wetherspoon said: “Most prices in Wetherspoon pubs have increased by 3.95% from Thursday, February 1.
“Some prices have increased by less. Ruddles Bitter has increased by 1%. Bud Light lager, Stowford Press Cider and Doom Bar bitter have increased by 2%. Draught Pepsi has not increased.
“The average increase, across all bar and food products is 3%.”
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Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “Wetherspoon, like most pub companies, has seen some big increases in costs.
"We believe that our prices remain competitive, even after these changes.”
I’ve visited 770 Wetherspoons – here are my best and worst… but I think most popular spot is overrated
A MEGAFAN has enjoyed a pint at 770 Wetherspoons - but thinks the most popular is overrated.
Bryan Dyer embarked on his bizarre mission to sink a drink at all 827 Spoons branches eight years ago.
The 65-year-old is so determined to tick off every pub on his bucket list, he even forked out £90 to travel from London to Cumbria in a day for a beer.
During the trip he got his money's worth and packed in a whopping five venues.
After so many Spoons adventures, the expert has narrowed down the best and worst spots.
"The best one I've been to is Ramgate in Kent. Royal Victoria Pavilion, what a place," he told The Mirror.
This venue is known as the world's biggest Wetherspoons, and is situated right on the beach.
It boasts 11,000 square feet of drinking space – including a huge terrace over the beach – and holds 1,500 punters, making it the biggest pub in Europe.
But, the worst branch Bryan visited offered a less impressive experience.
"The worst has to be Tooting, in south west London. It's terrible," he claimed.
"I'm not a fan of the one at Gatwick Airport either, but mainly because I've been told it's £7 a pint there now."
On how he began his Wetherspoons mission, he said: "I decided to start about eight years ago and try and get to all the London pubs, I don't really know why.
"Someone else was doing it, so I got involved - and now I've done all the south of England. Devon, Cornwall, you name it.
"It's not that different to groundhopping in football, I've done 88 League grounds, so four more to go."
The Wetherspoons superfan boasted he's already completed Cardiff, Swansea and Newport - but still has a long way to go with his next target in Derbyshire.
"The problem is they keep opening and shutting them. Sometimes when you've spent a day getting to one, it's chalked off the list," he added.
"But I love it, you meet some great people and it's a lot of fun. You get to see some lovely places."
When people question his hobby, Bryan raves about the friendly atmosphere and asks "what's not to like about cheap beer and food?"
He said: "You can get a good pint for a few quid where in many places now you're lucky to find a beer for less than £6."
Bryan continued: "I'm not the only person to try and tick them all off, a few people have beaten me to it but it's a brilliant community.
"People love hearing your stories and I'm always being asked about my 700 shirt."
