​Wetherspoon Unveils New £2.5m Pub at London's Waterloo Station

In an exciting development for London's hospitality scene, JD Wetherspoon has announced the opening of a new pub at London Waterloo station, following a substantial £2.5 million investment. Named the Lion and Unicorn, the pub is poised to launch this summer and is expected to generate 120 full- and part-time job opportunities.

Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Strategically located on the upper ground floor of the Sidings, the redevelopment of the former Eurostar Terminal which was inaugurated in 2022, the Lion and Unicorn will share space with notable establishments such as Black Sheep Coffee, Nando's, and the world's largest BrewDog bar within the 40 glass-fronted units of the site. Patrons can look forward to stunning floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the station concourse, enhancing the dining experience.

The name 'Lion and Unicorn' pays homage to the historic Festival of Britain, celebrated near the pub's location in 1951. This opening marks Wetherspoon's second major investment in a London station this year, following the £2.3 million Captain Flinders pub near Euston.

With over 800 locations across the UK and a recent surge in sales, Wetherspoon is on a clear path of expansion, eyeing a total of approximately 1,000 outlets. The company has explored various strategies for growth, including the addition of gardens and the extension into adjacent buildings.

< Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tim Martin, the knighted chairman and founder of Wetherspoon, expressed his enthusiasm for the new establishment, stating, "We are looking forward to opening our new pub. We are confident it will appeal to a wide range of people and be a great asset to the station itself."

Echoing Martin's sentiment, Sian Evans, LCR's asset management director, remarked, "The Sidings at Waterloo is set to become one of London's leading leisure and entertainment destinations. The new Wetherspoon pub will provide another great reason for people to visit."

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