Wetherspoon has confirmed whether two Bucks pubs currently in development will be affected by a fresh wave of UK closures.

Popular restaurant chain JD Wetherspoon surprised customers by announcing the sale of 32 of its UK venues in September 2022 and last month revealed that another 22 branches were due to be axed amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The cuts have left people wondering whether new Wetherspoon projects greenlit for development in Buckinghamshire last year are still going ahead or whether they have been sidelined amid the industry-wide economic turmoil.

Wetherspoon acquired planning permission for a new site in the former Prezzo building at 12-14 Station Road in Beaconsfield New Town last July, laying out alteration plans for the venue that included an external terrace and a lift shaft.

The approval document predicted that the pub would create 60 full and part-time jobs and undergo an overhaul worth over £2 million.

A representative for the company said there was "no date as yet" for the branch's opening but added that it was still in the works and had not been among the venues put on the market.

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Wetherspoon also received permission from Buckinghamshire Council to move into 3 Market Square, the former M&Co building in Marlow, in November 2022. 

Planning documents revealed that the pub would be named The Swan Hook and create between 50 and 60 new staff roles.

The spokesperson for the chain said the wider restaurant closures were "not connected" to the Marlow venue and would have "no impact" on its development.

Speaking to the Daily Express, a representative for Wetherspoon said that nearly all the pubs facing closure were in close proximity to other branches, adding that they were being sold due to the "difficult trading circumstances" that continue to impact the hospitality sector.

In February, Wetherspoon also upped the prices at a number of its UK stores by around 7.5 per cent, increasing the cost of food items by an average of 75p.

The company told The Sun that the hikes were the result of "big price increases affecting most businesses in the industry". 

Adding: "We have tried to keep our prices competitive, bearing in mind that customers have suffered from inflation too."

Despite these measures, Wetherspoon has experienced record sales growth this year, with its remaining portfolio of over 800 pubs across the UK and Ireland raking in their highest-ever Easter Sales in April 2023.