Wetherspoon has announced the opening dates for five new pubs, with one set to open at a UK airport. The Sir Frank Whittle pub, named after a British RAC officer known for co-creating the turbojet engine, will open at Heathrow Terminal 2 on July 14. This will be the third Wetherspoon pub at Heathrow, joining existing locations at Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.
In addition to the airport pub, Wetherspoon will open a new establishment at Birmingham University on May 26, located on Edgbaston Park Road. The chain will also operate Joe’s in partnership with the Guild of Students.
Another new pub, The Sir Ronald Wates, will open at Wates House, Surrey University in Guildford, on July 7. This pub will be owned by the university but franchised by Wetherspoon.
Looking ahead, two new Wetherspoon pubs are scheduled to open at Barcelona airport. The first will open at Terminal 1 by September 2026, followed by a second at Terminal 2 in January 2027. These openings are part of Wetherspoon’s plan to launch a total of 15 new managed pubs by the end of the current financial year, as the chain currently operates nearly 800 sites.
Despite the expansion plans, Wetherspoons has warned of challenges ahead, including higher labor costs, taxes, and energy bills impacting the group’s profits and contributing to inflation in the UK economy. Chairman Tim Martin stated that these cost increases could lead to profits falling slightly below market expectations, with the business facing significant additional costs annually.
The company reported a decrease in profits for the past half-year, citing higher wage costs and expenses for repairs and business rates. However, revenue grew, driven by increases in bar sales. Wetherspoons also noted recent growth in like-for-like sales and recent venue openings and closures.