JD Wetherspoon's Angus expansion plans raise fears for local pub trade
Fears for small, privately-owned pubs in Angus are growing after it was revealed an industry giant has added another town to its shopping list of sites in the region.
JD Wetherspoon already has a presence in Angus, at the Corn Exchange in Arbroath.
- By Graeme Bletcher
- Published in the Courier : 21.04.11
- Published online : 21.04.11 @ 07.45am
JD Wetherspoon has confirmed plans to open outlets in Brechin and Forfar, sparking concerns that its cheap food and drink deals could put local watering holes out of business.
The firm has stated it is also looking to buy a venue in Montrose as part of a national drive to move into smaller Scottish towns.
A spokesman said, "I can confirm that JD Wetherspoon is not looking at any more sites in Arbroath, however we are looking at sites in Forfar, Brechin and Montrose.
"Our interest in the towns is in the very early stages and we are currently looking at identifying suitable locations before we take it from there."
The chain is extending its reach into rural areas and has new outlets due to begin trading in Hawick and Inverurie in the coming weeks, and sites earmarked for Orkney and Peebles.
The expansion into small-town Scotland will also see Fraserburgh, Blairgowrie, Thurso, Lockerbie, Forfar, Cupar, Kelso, Oban and Fort William targeted, adding to a 51-strong portfolio north of the border.
Carl Glanville owns the award-winning Sharky's Bar in Montrose, and said it would be "impossible" to compete with the firm.
He said, "When the Belhaven Picture House opened it took away 20% of our turnover and we have had to build that back up again.
"Wetherspoons can afford to come in and make a loss for two years to kill everyone else off and then have the trade to themselves."
'I can't compete'
Alan Renilson, of The Brown Horse, Brechin, said a firm with such vast buying power moving into a small town could sound the death knell for three local pubs or more in each community.
He said, "When a new supermarket opens up in a town the smaller shops are going to suffer or close and this is exactly the same situation.
"Wetherspoons can afford to buy in beer that is close to its sell-by date in the knowledge that they are going to shift it before then, so they get kegs much cheaper.
"A regular of mine was at a Wetherspoons while he was following Brechin City and he said a pint of his usual only cost him £1.65. I can't compete with that."
JD Wetherspoon had previously looked at occupying the former Woolworths buildings in Brechin but decided it couldn't provide the requirements for a town centre pub.
The company used to buy premises that were around 4000 square feet, but more recently has secured buildings around the 2500 square foot mark.
Bill Wisdom, of Angus branch of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said, "Bigger chains like Wetherspoons are really only there for business and tend not to get involved in the community with things like sponsoring darts teams and football teams.
"It is okay in cities like Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh because there are enough people there to support them, but the local pubs in smaller towns just can't handle the competition."
09.52am - 21.04.2011 T. Totalno. - Forfar, Scotland Report This
Plenty of pubs lying empty or teetering on the brink in Forfar already. Don't blame Wetherspoons. The only worry in smaller towns is that Wetherspoons' pubs will become the focus for bevvy merchants encouraged by the cheap/reasonable prices. You pay your money-you make your choice.
07.22pm - 21.04.2011 Terry McCrodden - Wakefield, West Yorks. Report This
Wetherspoon's are a large pub outlet.. They do not sell at reduced prices then discontinue them after local trade is obliterated . Many local pubs are "tied" into buying products at "higher prices". That is main problem!!! They should negotiate with their "suppliers" to compete and offer better..
09.43am - 22.04.2011 steve Aston - Brechin, Scotland Report This
maybe these pubs in brechin deserve a "death knell",as pubs in brechin dont seem to cater for families the way a modern 21st century pub like weatherspoons can. If anyone can point out a pub in brechin that can compete with weatherspoons ie, good cheap food, family friendly ,let us know
01.42pm - 06.07.2011 Bill Withers - forfar, ANGUS Report This
forfar is presently a dustbowl ,full of charity shops, tacky tea stops and 99p shops..Forfar people will see this as a bargain basement for drink and food , so should do well
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