Preston Wetherspoons the Grey Friar sublet to rival pub operator - what we know so far
The pub has been on a the market since last summer and a deal has now been completed...
Wetherspoons will hand over one of its Preston pubs to a rival operator.
The Post can confirm that another pub company has struck a deal to take over the Grey Friar in Friargate.
Wetherspoons say they have sublet the building, next to Ringway, which will cease as trading as a Wetherspoon sometime this year, after serving the city for around 30 years.
A spokesperson for Wetherspoons said they are not in a position at this stage to reveal who the new operators will be, or when the doors will close ahead of the handover.
Staff at the Grey Friar, which employs around 50 people, have been made aware and confirmation of the final day of trading will soon be announced. The premises will remain as a pub, and is expected to be rebranded under its new operators.
A Wetherspoons spokesperson said: “Wetherspoon has exchanged on the property which was subject to completion of the licence to sublet. This has now been done.”