JD Wetherspoon to close Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts: JD Wetherspoon is to close down its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts for its individual pubs and head office. The company, which has almost 900 pubs across the UK and Republic of Ireland, is shutting all the accounts with immediate effect. It says the move follows the bad publicity surrounding social media, including the ‘trolling’ of MPs and others, especially those from religious or ethnic minorities. The move also takes account of recent concerns regarding the misuse of personal data and the addictive nature of social media. Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “We are going against conventional wisdom that these platforms are a vital component of a successful business. I don’t believe that closing these accounts will affect our business whatsoever, and this is the overwhelming view of our pub managers. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that people spend too much time on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and struggle to control the compulsion. We will still be as vocal as ever through our Wetherspoon News magazine, as well as keeping the press updated at all times. We will also be maintaining our website and the Wetherspoon app and encourage customers to get in touch with us via our website or by speaking with the manager at their local pub.” Last July, Wetherspoon deleted its entire email mailing list and says it will stop sending newsletters via email. The unexpected move was announced in an email from chief executive John Hutson. “Many companies use email to promote themselves, but we don’t want to take this approach – which many consider intrusive,” Hutson wrote to subscribers. “Our database of customers’ email addresses, including yours, will be deleted.” 

Kent-based Houdini’s Magic Bar opens second site, in Canterbury: Kent-based Houdini’s Magic Bar has opened its second site, in Canterbury. Owners Sam Watson and Claudette Cairns launched the concept, which features cocktails and resident magicians, in Broadstairs in 2016. Now they have opened the new venue in St Peter’s Street, Canterbury, on the site of a former sweet shop. Watson told Kent Online: “We opened our first bar in Broadstairs, which was a bit of gamble but it is going really well. We think the Houdini experience will be perfect for a medieval city such as Canterbury, which was always our ambition. We have some fantastic magicians performing and all the entertainment is free for guests to enjoy while they have a drink in magical surroundings.”