POPULAR pub chain Wetherspoon has announced it is in the process of selling off the Cross Keys in St Albans.

The pub, on Chequer Street, was opened by the company in April 1996.

While it is quite uncommon for the chain to sell off its pubs, Eddie Gershon, spokesperson for J.D. Wetherspoon, confirmed this week that the move was going ahead.

He said: “Wetherspoon can confirm that the Cross Keys is in the process of being sold off. The sale should go through in the next three to four weeks.”

The pub chain also runs the Waterend Barn, in St Peter’s Street and decided to press ahead with the Cross Keys sale in order to concentrate all its efforts on the one pub. Mr Gershon said that the Cross Keys was being bought by another pub company and would remain as a drinking establishment.