JD Wetherspoon has confirmed that The Hat & Feathers pub in Seaham, County Durham, will close, with the company giving back the lease to the building's owner. The closure is expected in 2027, though no exact date has been agreed.
Lease Handed Back
A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: "Wetherspoon is going to close the pub as it is giving back the lease to the owner of the building. There is no agreed date for closure."
The spokesperson added: "Wetherspoon does on occasion close some pubs, and this is the case here. We understand that customers and staff alike will be disappointed with the decision."
Local Reaction
The news has prompted a strong response from locals, with one person writing on Facebook: "So sad for all the lovely staff. Its a hub for loads of people to go as well. Church Street is already struggling." Another responded: "mad that, it's always busy, and more importantly it's our meet up place."
The closure follows the earlier loss of The William Jameson pub in Sunderland city centre, which closed at the start of the year after the building was put up for sale. It has since reopened under new ownership with the same name, but its closure as a Wetherspoons leaves Sunderland with just one branch, The Cooper Rose, compared with three a decade ago.
The announcement comes in the same week that work began on a £1 million refurbishment of the Wetherspoons inside the Metrocentre.
