Wetherspoons pub in Stafford up for sale

And the 45 employees have been told The Butler's Bell, on Gaolgate Street, will stay open until a buyer is found, and when it is sold they can transfer to another pub if they are not kept on by the buyer.

Wetherspoons said the decision was made after "long consideration".

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We can confirm that The Butlers Bell in Stafford has been put up for sale.

“We totally understand that our loyal customers and staff will be disappointed with this decision.

“However, Wetherspoon, does on occasion, put some of its pubs up for sale.

“It is a commercial decision taken by the company taken after long consideration.

“The pub will continue to trade as normal until a buyer is found.

“We have told our staff that if the pub is sold and they do not transfer to the purchaser, then we would look to redeploy our employees at other Wetherspoon pubs in the region.”