One of the worst-rated Wetherspoons pubs in Birmingham has permanently closed, as another is shut temporarily as part of a takeover of all restaurants in the NEC.
The Atrium was ranked as ‘the worst in the city’ after receiving an average customer rating of 2.3 out of five stars on the review website TripAdvisor.
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The reviews complained about ‘higher-than-average menu prices’, as well as the long wait time for food, and the low quality of customer service.
Wetherspoons bosses confirmed that the Atrium site has closed with immediate effect on Wednesday, August 6.
Wetherspoons also announced that the NEC Piazza has closed, with plans confirmed for the pub’s reopening under new ownership.
Regarding the NEC Piazza Wetherspoons, spokesperson Eddie Gershon, said: “We can confirm that the pub has now closed and that it will reopen on 1st September 2025 as a Levy franchised Wetherspoon pub, trading under the same name.
“There will not be any redundancies with staff being given the opportunity to transfer to the new owners, or offered a job at a Wetherspoon pub in the region.”
He added that: “Wetherspoons has also closed the Atrium site.”
The closures come after Levy announced plans to take ownership of all food and beverage operations across the NEC’s primary venues, including the NEC, ICC, Vox, and the Utilita Arena Birmingham.
The improvement plans include transforming many of the NEC’s food, catering and hospitality spaces.