Wetherspoons, known for its polarizing reputation, has a talent for transforming unusual locations into inviting spots for a drink and a budget-friendly meal. Across the UK, abandoned structures are being repurposed into drinking establishments, each offering the familiar ‘Spoons menu and promotions, ensuring a consistent experience for visitors.
Some of the most unconventional venues acquired by Wetherspoons include a former bank where patrons can sit in the vault and an elegant opera house providing a sophisticated setting for a night out. The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Keswick, originally a magistrates’ court and police station built in 1901, now features refurbished cells as seating booths, preserving traces of its past with heavy metal doors and high barred windows while offering a lively atmosphere for patrons in the beer garden.
The Rawson Spring in Sheffield, formerly the Hillsborough Baths, has been transformed into a spacious Wetherspoons, retaining elements like the balcony and poolside changing rooms, reminiscing the days of swimming lessons and summer fun. For those seeking a touch of culture with their meal, the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, a grand Grade II listed building with opulent interiors, provides a unique dining experience reminiscent of its past as a bingo hall.
In Glasgow, The Counting House, once a prominent bank branch, now houses a Wetherspoons where customers can enjoy a drink inside the former vault, surrounded by ornate features such as a domed ceiling, marble fireplaces, and Corinthian columns. The iconic Trocadero building in London, once a popular indoor amusement park and home to SegaWorld, is set to become one of the largest ‘Spoons in the city, offering ample space for diners in the heart of Theatreland.
Wetherspoons continues to repurpose historic buildings, breathing new life into these unique venues for patrons to enjoy a pint and a meal in settings rich with character and history.
