A student bar in Newcastle has seen unprecedented success after teaming up with JD Wetherspoon.
Luther’s Bar matched its previous annual profit in just nineteen weeks following its partnership with the pub chain.
The Newcastle University site announced the conversion in September 2023 before reopening its doors on Friday 15 September. The collaboration promised to offer an extensive food and drinks menu as well as more student job vacancies at the Union.
NUSU Commercial and Operations Director, Graham Hattam, said: “It was obvious after initial conversations that it had the potential to be very successful. The brand is known, pretty good value for money and it’s just very simple. You know what you’re going to get.”
“Luther’s previously had to be explained to students, whilst now, you don’t have to.”
This comes after Wetherspoon undertaking a similar endeavour with Hull University’s Sanctuary bar in January 2022.
Conversations between the Newcastle and Wetherspoon teams developed following a visit by the former to the Hull venue.
Having never served food on campus before, Luther’s owes a staggering proportion of turnover to its new culinary offering. Graham adds: “Fifty percent of our uplift is on food. That’s where the growth opportunities are.
“What we’re seeing now is breakfast, lunch, afternoon, and evening trade all split pretty equally. We’ve got consistency right across the day.
“In nineteen weeks, we achieved what we did in the whole of last year.”
Graham Hattam, NUSU Commercial and Operations Director
Newcastle University students are benefiting from the well-known pub company’s cheap alcohol and budget promotions such as ‘Thursday Curry Club’ and free hot drinks refills.
The prospects for students are not only limited to affordable lunches on campus. The previous staff body of 30 has well over doubled to 70 as a result of the bar’s gain in popularity.
Existing staff were able to continue their employment under the management of NUSU but underwent the same training and induction as Wetherspoon staff.
NUSU president, Shah Yaseen Ali, initially said: “The expansion of job opportunities within the bar will be welcomed by many of our students affected by the current cost-of-living crisis.
“The partnership will also strengthen our commercial endeavours and enhance the overall student experience.”
Beth Gibbons, a third-year student, said: “It’s very affordable which is good for students and I actually like the food as well. Last year, I had to leave campus if I wanted something cheap for lunch but now there is no need.”
The difference in demand trends across the current and previous academic years can be seen both in profit levels and student opinion. Lucy Humphreys, a regular in her second year at the university, added: “I came a couple of times at the start of my first year but never again.
“It has one hundred per cent got busier since then. Now, when I come here at lunchtime, it is packed and I can’t find a seat.”
Luther’s Bar is open every day of the week between 8:00am and 11:00pm. Food is served until 10:00pm.