WETHERSPOONS has confirmed that the Running Horses pub in St Helens town centre will close later this month.

The Lloyds No 1 bar, on Chalon Way, will cease trading, with Sunday, November 28 set to be its final day.

JD Wetherspoon has said that there will be no job redundancies as a result of the closure of the Running Horses, which opened in the former Chicago Rock building in 2009.

All staff who remain with the company are to be transferred to other Wetherspoons pubs in the area.

Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We thank our staff and customers for their loyalty over the years and appreciate that both sets of people will be disappointed with the decision.

"However, Wetherspoons does on occasion close some pubs."

The chain has two other pubs in the borough, The Glass House on Market Street in St Helens town centre and The Nine Arches in Legh Street, Earlestown.

It is believed the company wants to focus its efforts on one pub in the St Helens town centre area and the pandemic is not viewed as a primary reason in its closure.

Wetherspoons leased the premises – which is part of the leisure building that also houses Cineworld and a Nando's restaurant.

The decision will leave one of St Helens' biggest venues empty.