This is the new JD Wetherspoon in Bath that opened a few weeks ago in March 2026, the second one of the chain’s pubs in the city and this refurbishment cost them £2.2 million. This building was once Bath’s Post Office, but was for the last fifteen years or so used by Revolution until they closed.
One thing that JD Wetherspoon does well, amongst many other things, is having an interest in the history of their buildings. This reads:
“York Buildings is a grade II listed Georgian terrace, with a grand frontage along George Street. Completed in c1760, most of York Buildings, excluding No. 2, was the York House Hotel, latterly the Royal York Hotel. No 2 is at the end of the terrace. Previous uses include the Midland Bank, an auctioneer/estate agent’s premises and Bath’s main post office.
York Buildings was designed in the Palladian style by John Wood the Younger, who also designed Bath’s world-famous Royal Crescent, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Britain. The porches were added in the 19th century, with ground-floor alterations made to No.2 in the 1870s. Bath’s architectural transformation into a Georgian city was begun by his father, John Wood the Elder. An outstanding architect and town planner, he began laying out George Street in 1734.
On the front of 2 York Buildings is carved ‘The Old Post Office’. During 1854–1927, these premises housed Bath’s main post office, with Oldham T Taylor its postmaster for nearly 30 years (1863–90). Thomas Moore Musgrave was also a long-serving postmaster here. On 2 May 1840, Thomas famously posted an item of mail from the Bath post office, then at 8 Broad Street, with the newly invented Penny Black postage stamp — this was the world’s first adhesive postage stamp’s earliest use.
Ralph Allen was another famous postmaster. He arrived in Bath in 1710 and worked as a postal clerk. Two years later, aged only 19, he became the postmaster of Bath. In 1722, Ralph was elected mayor of Bath. During the intervening years, he made a fortune from reorganising the main postal routes across England.”
The downstairs bar and it all looks colourful, bright and clean.
The window seat was handy for people watching. There’s an upstairs bar as well and the whole arrangement is quite sizeable.
My now obligatory carpet photo.
There were six real ales on (with beers from Thornbridge, Oakham, Brains and Greene King), but as it was still morning I went for the £1.89 refillable coffees.
As usual for this chain, I felt drawn to look at the online reviews and it’s one of the higher rated JD Wetherspoon locations on Google although it has only been open for a few weeks.
“I was disappointed to see the lack of diversity in the interior design of this new bar in Bath. The images displayed throughout the venue only portray white men, which feels out of touch in 2026 and does not reflect the diverse history and communities that exist. Public spaces should be inclusive and representative of everyone. I hope this is something the management considers improving ASAP as it would make the environment feel more welcoming and inclusive.”
Although the photos the reviewer took showed half the images in the venue were women and there is perhaps a limit of how many eighteenth and nineteenth century diverse images of famous Bath residents they can find without it looking a bit forced. I can’t imagine that this will be a priority for JD Wetherspoon.
“Arrived to the new weatherspoons and looked good. Asked if we could have a table with our dog and was told yes out side. Sat down ordered food , told I have to order to a table inside and take it out side my self .
After getting oue drinks and paying I am told that I must leave as my dog was not welcomed due to policy.
I understand policy, how ever being told I can have a table outt side then order my food .to then be told I have to leave is not on. I did get a full refund , as my food arrived. Will never return”
There’s already a review that JD Wetherspoon don’t accept dogs anywhere in their venues, that didn’t take long.
And that’s about it, just some disappointment about cold breakfasts and tables that weren’t cleared down very quickly, otherwise customers seem to like it. It was certainly busy when I went on a Saturday morning in June, with the service all being fast and efficient. All very lovely and that’s another one of the chain’s venues that I’ve visited, so I then thought I’d better visit some Good Beer Guide pubs as well.
