Hundreds sign petition to save Croydon Wetherspoons
By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
Purley locals are hoping a petition could save a popular Wetherspoons pub for the second time.
More than 260 people so far have signed a petition to save the Foxley Hatch in Russell Hill Road. Back in 2015 more than 1,800 backed a similar petition to save the pub, which was successful.
The future of the Purley pub is at risk again and could soon join two other Wetherspoons in Croydon that have closed in the past 12 months. It is one of 32 across the company the pub chain is putting up for sale.
The petition was started by Simon Cripps chair of the Purley Business Improvement District (BID). He thinks the venue is important for the local area as it offers a cheaper alternative to other pubs.
He said: “The pub is a core offering for the night-time economy. We do have really good pubs in Purley but Wetherspoons provides a good price point for younger and older people, they might be priced out of the town because of this.
“I think it’s a bit short-sighted of the company. There are big flats going up in Purley and I’m sure to have a Wetherspoons offering in Purley would be extremely popular.
“We did a similar petition about seven years ago, that was a contributing factor why it was kept open then. I think it has got a very strong case that it is being well used.”
JD Wetherspoon said the decision to put the pub up for sale was a “commercial decision” and said it would continue to operate until it is sold off.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon previously said: “We understand that customers and staff will be disappointed with it. The pub will continue to operate as a Wetherspoon outlet until it is sold.”
The pub chain has already closed two branches in the borough this year. The Skylark in South End closed in March, despite a strong local campaign, including a petition of 1,000 signatures, to save it.
This came a month after The Milan Bar, located in the town centre, which closed down on Valentine’s Day.
Pictured top: Simon Cripps started a petition to save the Foxley Hatch from closure (Picture: Grahame Larter)
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