Mystery surrounds closed down Wetherspoons pub by Beaconsfield Services
A divisive Wetherspoons pub which closed after almost 12 years in business, remains empty months after shutting its doors.
The Hope and Champion at Beaconsfield Services first opened at the site off Junction 2 of the M40 in January 2014. It is named after the old stagecoaches that passed through the area carrying people between London and Oxford.
Once opened it was soon dubbed one of the country’s most controversial boozers. At the time, road safety charity Brake said the pub was “putting temptation in front of drivers” and argued its drink-drive warnings should be made “extra clear”.
The RAC also claimed a survey of 2,000 people suggested only 12 per cent of people supported pubs being located inside motorway service stations.
The pub closed at the beginning of this year, with the chain instead opening a new venue in Beaconsfield on Station Road called The Chiltern. The new pub opened on January 13 and has since been described as being packed with millionaires.
At the time of the closure, Wetherspoon said the decision to shut the pub was a commercial one. The company said it does “on occasion” close pubs and confirmed all staff working at The Hope & Champion would remain with Wetherspoon, with the majority transferring to its new Beaconsfield pub, The Chiltern.
New photos of the former pub show the large venue left exactly as it was, with tables and chairs still laid out while some furniture remains stacked on top of each other.
A listing on the Wetherspoon pub property website now shows the Hope and Champion site as being “under offer”. The listing reads: “Beaconsfield – Hope & Champion, Beaconsfield Services, HP9 2SE – Leasehold – UNDER OFFER.”
A sales document made by CBRE and Savills added: “The Hope & Champion occupies part of the ground and first floor of the two storey service station under a curved roof.
“To the rear is an external beer terrace laid out to provide seating for approximately 60 customers with a further 28 to the front elevation.
“The property has the potential to be split to provide separate units at ground and first floor levels, subject to landlords consent.”
The property is able to open 24 hours a day and benefits from a premises licence permitting the sale of alcohol from 8am until 1pm Monday to Sunday.