Why do we care about this number? Because it's a national game. "Challenge the Spoons" is a real thing. People try to visit all 800. There's a Facebook group. They call themselves "Spoons Hunters." They log every pint like birdwatchers.
The real achievement? Visiting a Wetherspoons in every county. You'd need to hit all 48 in England alone. Plus Wales and Scotland. That's a road trip of pure, glorious mediocrity.
Another 40 Wetherspoon pubs added to big UK branch sell-off | This is Money
One pub has the longest name. It's the Sir John Oldcastle in Islington. That's a mouthful. The shortest? The Penarth in Cardiff. Just one word. Efficient.
The future of the flock
Wetherspoons isn't done. They still open 10-15 new pubs a year. Mostly in suburban spots and retail parks. They're chasing families with cheap pizza and kids' meals. The days of the city-centre mega-pub? Fading.
But here's the funny part: every time one closes, locals protest. "Save our Spoons!" they cry. People literally march for the right to drink £2.50 lager under a garish ceiling. It's beautiful, really.
So, how many pubs does Wetherspoons have? About 800. Give or take. By the time you read this, one might have closed. Another might have opened. That's the charm. It's a living, breathing, slightly sticky beast.
Next time you're in a Spoons, look at the menu. Find the note that says "Established 1989" or whatever. Then look around. You're in one of 800. And you're part of the biggest, weirdest pub experiment in history. Cheers to that.
