The Linen Hall in Enniskillen

JD Wetherspoon has sold five of its pubs in the North to The Granny Annie’s Group. 

The Old Courthouse in Coleraine, The Spinning Mill in Ballymena and two Derry pubs have also been sold by Wetherspoon’s.

The amount paid by Granny Annie’s, run by Limavady brothers Willis and Ryan McLaughlin, is thought to be around £3m.   

“These include The Linen Hall in Enniskillen, The Old Courthouse in Coleraine, The Spinning Mill in Ballymena together with The Ice Wharf and The Diamond in Derry. The outlets will continue to trade as normal over the festive season. A £3m renovation programme will commence in early 2017.”

It’s understood that staff at each of the pubs will be transferred to the new owner and as a result there will be no job losses.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin added: “We understand that our loyal customers will be disappointed with the decision to sell five of our pubs in Northern Ireland. However, as a company we have to make commercial decisions and it was decided to sell the pubs.”