Sir Daniel Arms to close

Swindon's Sir Daniel Arms is one of 7 JD Wetherspoon pubs to be disposed, across the England and Wales.

The Swindon site is now being considered for sale individually, or as part of a portfolio along with six other pubs across the UK. 

Savills and CBRE have been appointed by the pub giant to sell on the public house sites. 

A spokesperson for the property firms, said: "Following the success of our earlier marketing campaigns for JD Wetherspoons, we are delighted to be launching these seven outlets to the market.

"These sizeable venues are all fitted to a high standard which will make them appealing to a broad range of potential buyers."

The other sites currently up for sale are:

• The Bell Hotel, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
• Chapel an Gansblydhen, Bodmin, Cornwall
• The Robert Peel, Bury, Manchester
• The Drum, Leyton, East London
• The Postal Order, Worcester, Worcestershire
• The North & South Wales Bank, Wrexham, Denbighshire

JD Wetherspoon has also announced that when the VAT tax rate increases to 12.5% later this year, it will increase its food by 40p per meal.

Pub trade journal, the Morning Advertiser said: "JDW also outlined the company's stance on VAT and that 'taxes should be fair and equitable' - something [JD Wetherspoon boss] Tim Martin has been vocal about in the past.

"The operator went on to address that while the Chancellor reduced the VAT rate for hospitality to 5% during the pandemic, this was still above the rate supermarkets pay, though it was welcome. The [...] interim rise to 12.5% in September will mean the pub group will have to push its prices up for meals and said the increase in VAT will mean the entire hospitality industry less competitive."