JD Wetherspoon PLC (LON:JDW) has refuted an article published by the Daily Mail Online on July 2, saying the headline, which included that claim that the firm was “getting rid of 15 pubs” when it reopened on ‘Super Saturday’ last weekend, was “untrue”.
On Tuesday, the publican said the 15 pubs in question were put on the market over a year ago in April 2019 and five of them had been sold and now belonged to third parties.
READ: Wetherspoons confirms July reopening, takes new £48mln state loan
The firm added that eight of the pubs were withdrawn from the market, while the remaining two are still up for sale.
Wetherspoons also highlighted the following quote that: ".... the branches … were put up for sale last April but the chain has now confirmed they will stay on the market - but still open on Saturday". The firm said no one from the company authorised to speak to the Daily Mail, or with any knowledge of the group, had made the statement.
The article remained online for around two days but has now been removed.
Shares in Wetherspoons were down 2.1% at 995.5p in early deals.