JD Wetherspoon signs new franchise agreement with The Papas Group: JD Wetherspoon has signed a new franchise agreement with The Papas Group. The multi-unit agreement will result in 15 new Wetherspoon pubs. The first pub to open will be named The Hykeham Manor, located in Gateway Park, Lincoln, on the site of a former Gateway Park Brewers Fayre. The pub is set to open on Wednesday, 1 October. A further three are set to open in October and November at sites in Annitsford (Cramlington), Stockton-on-Tees and Emersons Green (Bristol). The Papas Group was founded in 1966 and remains a family-owned business. It operates a number of casual dining and quick service restaurants in England and Scotland including the five-strong Papa’s Fish & Chips and was one of the first franchisees to open a Wendy’s when it returned to the UK in 2021. The Papas Group operates Wendy’s locations in Blackpool, Sheffield, Lincoln, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Hull and Newcastle. Wetherspoon currently has five pubs under franchise with holiday park company Haven, as well as franchise agreements with Newcastle and Hull universities, with a pub operating at each university. Wetherspoon also has a franchise agreement with Thompson Holdings, which operates a pub in the Isle of Man. Wetherspoon commercial director Michael Barron said: “We are delighted to have signed agreements with The Papas Group. We are looking at further opportunities and are confident that more franchise agreements will be signed.” The Papas Group director Andrew Papas added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Wetherspoons to bring 15 new pubs to life across the UK. These aren’t just any pubs – they’re beloved community spaces, thoughtfully located outside the traditional high street, yet right at the heart of where people live, work, and gather. This partnership is about more than just expansion; it’s about restoration, revitalisation, and reinvestment in our local communities. We’re proud to be breathing new life into some fantastic venues, creating hundreds of jobs, and offering unbeatable value, welcoming surroundings and the exceptional service that people expect from Wetherspoon. At Papas Group, we believe in building places that bring people together – and we can’t wait to open our doors.” Wetherspoon features in Propel’s UK Food & Beverage Franchisor Database, which is exclusive to Premium Club subscribers. The next edition will be sent on Wednesday (10 September) and feature 370 companies. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

 

‘Generation Z beer drinkers hold the key to saving cask ale’: Generation Z beer drinkers hold the key to the survival of cask ale, as a new generation learns to appreciate Britain’s national beer style, according to new research. In advance of Cask Ale Week 2025, figures show that 25% of 18 to 24-year-old beer drinkers, the Generation Z demographic, regularly order cask ale at the pub, an increase of more than 50% on the previous year. The statistic comes from a YouGov survey carried out for the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA). Cask Ale Week, which runs from 18-28 September, aims to tempt Brits back into the habit of visiting their local, as well as to support sales of cask beer. In addition to the SIBA figures, fears that younger consumers have been giving up drink altogether have been debunked by new stats from IWSR. These show the number of Generation Z consumers in the UK aged 18-plus who have had an alcoholic drink in the past six months is up from 66% to 76%. Ash Corbett-Collins, national chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Younger drinkers, Generation Z, are already more likely to use pubs than many older Brits. Many people got out of the pub-going habit during lockdown, and in tough times economically, too many have stayed away, causing real problems for many pubs and brewers. For some, the initial appeal is undoubtedly the fact that cask ale is often the best value beer on the bars, but it’s the freshness, flavour and variety of cask that keeps them coming back for more.” The SIBA figures also show that 22% of female beer drinkers regularly order cask ale, compared with 43% of men. Corbett-Collins added: “It would be great to see even higher numbers, but the glass half full fact is that men and women of all ages are enjoying cask beer. Hopefully, more people than ever will do so during Cask Ale Week. Thousands of pubs are taking part, offering every style of cask ale, from light and hoppy pale ales via amber best bitters, to dark, smooth stouts.”