JDW to put 16 pubs on the market
Two of the pubs, the Bourtree in Hawick and Cross Keys in Peebles, both on the Scottish Borders, are among the 16 UK-wide sites being put on the market by the pub group.
JDW spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We totally understand that our loyal customers and staff will be disappointed with this decision.
“However, JDW does, on occasion, put some of its pubs up for sale.
“It is a commercial decision taken by the company taken after long consideration.″
Trade as normal
He added: “The pubs will continue to trade as normal until a buyer is found.
“We have told our staff that if the pub is sold and they do not transfer to the purchaser, then we would look to redeploy our employees at other JDW pubs in the region.″
The pubs are:
- Brun Lea, Burnley, Lancashire (Lloyds)
- Friar Penketh, Warrington, Cheshire
- Bourtree, Hawick, Scottish Borders
- The Cross Keys, Peebles, Scottish Borders
- Chapel an Gansblydhen, Bodmin, Cornwall (Lloyds)
- St George's Hall, Redfield, Bristol
- Isaac Merritt, Paignton, Devon
- Dee Hotel, West Kirby, Merseyside
- Last Plantagenet, Leicester, Leicestershire
- Rhinoceros, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Alexander Bain, Wick, Highland, Scotland
- Pennsylvanian, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
- Time Piece, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
- Butler's Bell, Stafford, Staffordshire
- Queens Hotel, Newport, south east Wales
- Vulcan, Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
In May 2016, JDW announced it was disposing of a further 33 pubs on top of 12 that the pubco put on the market in 2015, with a large portion of the sales taking place in London and the south.
The sites were located in town and city centres within England, Scotland and Wales.
Meanwhile, JDW pushed its prices up for the fifth time in two years this month (March).
Prices across the pubco’s sites vary dependent on location, however, dishes including the ultimate burger and an alcoholic drink have increased to £7.75.
Great-value meals
This compares to two years ago, when the combination cost £7.25.
There has also been an approximate 5p price increase on a cup of coffee, however, JDW said free refills will remain.
Overall, there has roughly been a 10p increase on meal deals – meals including a drink – roughly equating to a 5p increase on the price of a meal and a 5p increase on the price of a drink.
Gershon added: “Our customers love the excellent range of great-quality meals at our pubs and we are certain they will enjoy the new meals we have added to the menu.
“We believe that we continue to offer excellent value for money meals in our pubs.”
