I have to take issue with Gromit on the cause and/or effect of Wetherspoons (JDW).
I do not believe that JDW pubs are causing the closure of the large number of locals that are failing. All JDW branches are in High Streets – locations where there are few “local” boozers. Wethers have been around for 30 years, and have been numerous for at least fifteen. Many people who frequent them do so not because they prefer them to their local, but because:
(a) Their local has probably closed or
(b) if it has not it is probably a draughty doss-house which opens and closes when it feels like it, serves food from 12-2 Monday-Friday (if it does so at all) and its clientele is limited to “Jobseekers” swilling pints of lager whilst standing on the doorstep (with the door propped open) smoking.
JDW branches have their faults. However, in most of them (and I’ve visited around sixty) the seating is plentiful and comfortable, you get a wide variety of beers, served properly at a reasonable price. Yes they do buy in short-date beer (and this sometimes leads to it going “off” before the barrel is finished) but if such a pint is served it is readily changed without quibble.
Their food is not gourmet (with most main dishes costing a fiver or less you should not expect it) but you know what you’re getting. They serve breakfast and their full menu is available to 10pm (how many locals do the same?).
Go to most large airports and you will find breakfast available at JDW outlets from 4am, when most of the other caterers struggle to their feet at around 6:30.
In short, as Steve says, they do what people want. The days when boozers can survive simply selling pints of lager are gone, and those pubs that did not realise this are gone too. And they would have gone whether Tim Martin opened his pubs or not.