Pub giant's third outlet 'a threat'

A third Wetherspoon's pub in Shrewsbury could price other small town pubs out of business and cause chaos for residents living nearby, it has been claimed.Daryl Lloyd, cChairman of the town's Licensed Victuallers Association, who runs the Cross Foxes in Longden Coleham, said smaller pubs could be priced out at a time when trade is already difficult.

Wetherspoon's, which is taking over the former Bar Med site in Lower Claremont Bank, has also been given the go-ahead to open a bar in the Pride Hill Centre and it already runs the Shrewsbury Hotel in Smithfield Road.

But Mr Lloyd said he could not understand why the company thought three pubs in one place would be sustainable.

He said: "Personally, I think it's a bit of overkill. They are obviously completely controlling that area.

"If Bar Med could not make enough money to keep it going, I do not think having three in that area will work."

He added: "It's going to become an area of chaos with them all being so close. To make them viable, the numbers will have to be so high and with three in the same area, it will be chaos for any residents.

"I think it could very much price other pubs out of business, like smaller pubs in Frankwell and along Smithfield Road. Pubs are already struggling but with three huge Wetherspoon's charging £1 a pint, they are going to be struggling even more.

"I think people will come from out of town and that area will become hell on a weekend."

Bar Med and Yates were closed at the end of March by the Laurel Pub Company.