The Babington Arms, operated by Wetherspoon since 1997, has been sold, the company said. The pub, which received an £800,000 investment when Wetherspoon took over, will close on April 12. According to Daily Express - UK News, a regular customer described being 'a bit annoyed and in shock', saying they visit two or three times a week.
Another regular said it was their 'pub of choice' in Derby, and a third threatened to chain themselves to the building. The William Jameson, a 19th-century pub named after the man who laid out Sunderland's Fawcett Street, was put up for sale in July 2025. After its closure, only the Cooper Rose will remain of the three Wetherspoon pubs in Sunderland city centre.
Meanwhile, the Samuel Peto in Folkestone will close from May 26 to July 16 for a £552,834 refurbishment. The work includes a new lobby and bar area, carpet replacement, ceiling repairs, exterior redecoration, and updated signage. The 'tea stain' finish will be replaced with a modern paint scheme, and one 'Freehouse' sign will be swapped for 'Wetherspoon' branding.
The cellar, dispense systems, and kitchen (including removal of the chargrill) will be upgraded, but seating will remain unchanged. Contractors start on May 11, and the pub is expected to reopen the week of July 7, though it will be closed for most of the World Cup. Despite the closures, Wetherspoon is expanding elsewhere, opening new pubs in Blackpool, Fareham, Cornwall, Birmingham, and Guildford, and launched its first European branch at Alicante Airport on February 9.
Other recent closures include venues in Angel (London), Watford, Derby, and Glasgow. It is unclear why the Babington Arms was sold or what will replace the William Jameson.