Wetherspoon’s sell off The Diamond Bar in Derry to Granny Annie’s group
PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has sold two of its pubs in Derry.
They are among five of its nine pubs in the North which have been snapped up by local business The Granny Annie’s group.
The deal is said to be worth £3 million.
The Diamond Bar and The Ice Wharf in Derry have been offloaded along with The Old Courthouse in Coleraine, The Spinning Mill in Ballymena and The Linen Hall in Enniskillen.
Granny Annie’s Group operates three pubs — one in Derry, one in Limavady and at the former Victoria’s in Chichester Street, Belfast.
The company is run by Limavady brothers Willis and Ryan McLaughlin.
Wetherspoon’s chairman Tim Martin said staff at the pubs would be transferred to the new owner and that there would be no job losses.
Mr Martin added: “We understand that our loyal customers will be disappointed with the decision to sell five of our pubs in Northern Ireland.
“However, as a company we have to make commercial decisions and it was decided to sell the pubs.
“At the same time we are looking to open two new pubs in Belfast in the near future.”
The company aims to open two new pubs in Belfast, spending £4.5 million and creating 100 new jobs.
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