Located on the University’s main campus, the venue takes its name from Sir Ronald Wates, whose family funded and constructed the original building.
The Wates family gave permission for the pub to carry his name, continuing their long association with the university.
Commenting on the new opening, JDW chief executive John Hutson said: “We are delighted a Wetherspoon pub is to open at the University of Surrey.
Value and quality
“We are confident it will prove popular with students as well as members of the public and be a great addition for the university.”
Set the open in mid-May 2026, the pub will offer Wetherspoon’s full food and drink menu and be open for the public to use.
University of Surrey chief operating officer Will Davies added: “We wanted to give our community a pub-style venue that could offer genuine value for money alongside quality.
“Wetherspoon’s model means students can get a full breakfast for less than £5. The Wetherspoon franchise gives us their pricing power and supply chain efficiency while allowing us to offer a great experience for our students and staff.”
It marks the third university site opening for the pub giant, which operates an estate of 794 pubs across the UK.
Rapid expansion
The pubco has expanded its franchise estate in recent months, and is focused on growing the division further, founder and chair previously Tim Martin told The Morning Advertiser (The MA).
Its franchise agreement includes venues at Haven Holiday Parks, which the company recently announced would benefit from a £9m investment.
On top of this, JDW also opened its first pub abroad this month, at Alicante Airport in Spain, and increased its presence in the capital, taking on the former Coyote Ugly on London’s Shaftsbury Avenue.
The group further reported a 4.5% rise in like for like sales for the 25 weeks to 18 January, with total sales up 5.3% year to date.
Despite a £45m rise in operating costs across energy, wages, repairs and business rates in the first half, Wetherspoon said it plans to open 15 pubs in FY26.
