Wetherspoons to close two popular pubs leaving patrons 'devastated'

Wetherspoons is set to close two of its much-loved pubs within days, leaving customers across London and Devon reeling from the news. The pub giant has confirmed that Baxter's Court in Hackney, east London, will close its doors on November 2, followed a week later by The Water Gate in Barnstaple, which will shut on November 9.

The closures have sparked frustration and sadness among regulars, many of whom have taken to social media and review sites to express their disappointment.

One Hackney customer wrote on Reddit: "I've been going there for years, it's one of the few affordable places left to meet friends without feeling rushed out. Losing it feels like the end of an era."

Another added: "It's always been a proper community spot. You could walk in alone and end up chatting to someone over a pint. Places like that are getting rarer in London."

In Barnstaple, reaction to The Water Gate's closure has been equally emotional. One local posted on Facebook: "It's been a staple of the high street for years. I've spent many evenings there with family, it's sad to see another piece of the town disappear."

Another wrote: "We don't have many places like it in Barnstaple. It's a shame; the staff were always friendly and the atmosphere was great."

Both pubs were among six venues Wetherspoons placed up for sale in June as part of an ongoing review of its nationwide estate. The remaining four, including The Babington Arms in Derby, Kentish Drovers in Peckham, The Grey Friar in Preston, and The William Jameson in Sunderland, will remain open until buyers are found.

A spokesperson for Wetherspoons said the company has been "streamlining its portfolio", selling smaller or older pubs while investing in new openings across the UK.

Last month, Wetherspoons signed a franchise deal with The Papas Group to open 15 new pubs, including one at Gateway Park in Lincoln on the site of a former Brewers Fayre. Additional sites in Annitsford, Stockton-on-Tees, and Emersons Green are also due to open by the end of November.

New Wetherspoons Openings:

• Marlow, Buckinghamshire - open

• London Waterloo Station - open

• The Conister Arms, Douglas, Isle of Man - open

• Walham Green, Fulham Broadway - open

• Dictum of Kenilworth, Warwickshire - opening soon

• The Sun Wharf, Tooley Street, London Bridge - open

• The Sir Alexander Fleming, Paddington - open

• The King of Essex, Basildon - open

• The Chiltern, Beaconsfield - opening December 2