A MAJOR pub chain has its sights set on Hampshire as it reveals its ambitious plans to expand across the country, creating more than 15,000 new jobs.

JD Wetherspoon has confirmed that it is looking at a site in Bitterne as part of its national master plan to open 200 new pubs over the next five years.

They were remaining tight-lipped about where exactly in Bitterne their preferred site was as they are still in negotiations but added that if all went to plan, they would hope for it to be open in the next 18 months.

The new pub would bring with it up to 45 new jobs, which will include management roles as well as jobs for bar, kitchen and front of house staff.

The firm also revealed that this may not be the only new pub to open its door in the region, with the company “keen” on the towns and suburbs surrounding Southampton.

However, there are no concrete plans at this stage.

Daily Echo:

The news comes as the chain announced that it will open 200 new pubs and create 15,000 jobs over the next five years, across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

The firm said it will invest more than £400m in developing the new pubs.

Wetherspoon already operates 931 pubs, with a number across Hampshire including the Wagon Works in Eastleigh and the Giddy Bridge in Southampton city centre, where staff celebrated the good news for the New Year.

Speaking about the firm’s expansion in Hampshire, Westherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon, said: “We have enjoyed great success in Southampton and the surrounding towns and are keen to open a number of new pubs in the area in the coming years.”

The chain, which employs 34,000 staff, said the new jobs will be spread across the new outlets as well as at existing sites.

Tim Martin, Wetherspoon chairman, added: “We are looking forward to opening the new pubs, many of which will be in areas where Wetherspoon is not yet represented.

“We are proud to be creating so many new jobs. Wetherspoon paid more than £600 million in taxes in our last financial year and this will rise to approximately £1 billion in the course of the next five years.”