First-of-its-kind Wetherspoons is opening in UK this week – just hours before the World Cup semi-finals

A NEW first-of-its-kind Wetherspoons will be opening its doors for customers this week. The pub will welcome visitors in time for the World Cup semi-final. At 8am on July 14, the Sir Ronald Wates Wetherspoons pub will be opening on the campus and will be the first to be fully operated by a UK university. The former student bar had been closed since last December before being turned into a Wetherspoon site. While other student unions run Wetherspoons, such as Newcastle and Hull, the University of Surrey will be the first to own and operate it under the Wetherspoons model. This grants the University access to pub giants’ supply chain and operational systems, while still having control over staffing, licensing and premises management. Read more in Money Opening day is expected to be a busy one as France will be facing off in the World Cup semi-final at 8pm later that day. According to the Wetherspoons website, the opening times look to be between 8am – 12am, Monday to Sunday. Anyone looking to visit with children under 18 may only bring them onto the premises between 8am – 7pm. The discount pub will be open to students, staff, visitors and the wider Guildford community. Most read in Money Earlier this year, when the partnership was announced, chief operating officer at the University of Surrey, Will Davies said: “We wanted to give our community a pub-style venue that could offer genuine value for money alongside quality. “Wetherspoon’s model means students can get a full breakfast for less than five pounds. “The Wetherspoon franchise gives us their pricing power and supply chain efficiency whilst allowing us to offer a great experience for our students and staff.”