J.P. Joule
The J.P. Joule is a Wetherspoons pub on Northenden Road in Sale, Trafford. Open since July 1997, the pub is situated in Sale's town centre, just a one minute walk from Sale Tram Stop.
The pub is named after James Prescott Joule, who lived locally in Sale in their later life. They were buried in Sale Cemetery.
Location
The J.P. Joule's address is 2A Northenden Road, Sale, M33 3BR. The coordinates are 53.42411, -2.31752, and the what3words location is ///gloves.desire.heat.[1]
Contact information
The telephone number for the J.P. Joule is 0161 962 9889. There is no publicly advertised email address, and customers can order food and drink through the Wetherspoons app.
Parking and accessibility
There is a dedicated parking lay-by in front of the J.P. Joule, however there are parking restrictions which usually require payment at a machine.
There are bus stops just a few minutes down the road on Northenden Road, and the nearest tram stop is Sale, just a minute away by foot. There are no practical train stations for getting to the J.P. Joule. The nearest station is Navigation Road, an hour away by foot.
The J.P. Joule has a dedicated accessible entrance at the front, though the other front doorways all have high steps. The street, being part of Sale's town centre, is well-equipped with dropped kerbs.
Opening hours
The J.P. Joule opens at 8am every day. It closes at midnight every day, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it closes at 1am.
Inspections and awards
The Food Standards Agency last inspected the J.P. Joule on 10th February 2025, and gave it the top 'Very Good' (5/5) rating for food hygiene.[2]
The J.P. Joule was given a platinum award for the Loo of the Year Awards 2024.[3][4]
History
Opening
J D Wetherspoon took ownership of the Feathers pub on Northenden Road[5] and spent £1 million renovating it into the J.P. Joule, which opened its doors in July 1997.[6] At the time of opening it was described as a "standard" Wetherspoons venue, providing "excellent value" for the local area of Sale.
Incidents
On 13th September 2012, a wheelchair-bound patron was inside the J.P. Joule when they got into a dispute with someone they had known for years. Being unable to physically confront them due to historic paralysis, they instead decided to leave the pub to fetch a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver that they had purchased several weeks prior. After returning to the J.P. Joule with the revolver, they were disarmed by patrons and the revolver was found to lack any ammunition. They were later jailed in January 2013 for 20 months at Preston Crown Court, for possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and for possessing a prohibited CS gas canister that police found at their home.[7]
Refurbishment
In late 2025 the pub closed temporarily while it underwent a £1.1 million refurbishment. Changes made to the pub include:
- New roof
- New air conditioning
- New carpeting
- New kitchen
- New drink dispensing equipment behind the bar
- Introduce of a feature fireplace
On 9th December 2025 the pub re-opened following the refurbishments,[8] having been closed for about 1-2 months.[9] Due to a significant number of the refurbishments not being visible in the main bar seating area, patrons generally mocked the efforts, claiming it looks the same.[10]
Sources
- ↑ ///gloves.desire.heat, what3words website, accessed 9th February 2026.
- ↑ J P Joules | Rating Business Details | Food Hygiene Ratings, Food Standards Agency website, accessed 16th February 2026.
- ↑ Trafford: Four Wetherspoon pubs get award for high standard toilets, Messenger Newspapers, 22nd November 2024, accessed 16th February 2026.
- ↑ Loo of the Year Awards, Loo of the Year Awards website, accessed 16th February 2026.
- ↑ Manchester Evening News, 17th July 1997, Page 48.
- ↑ Manchester Evening News, 22nd August 1997, Page 34.
- ↑ Jailed: The wheelchair man who pulled gun on drinker in Sale pub row, Manchester Evening News, 11th January 2013, accessed 16th February 2026.
- ↑ A LOOK INSIDE: The J.P. Joule (JD Wetherspoon Sale) after refurbishment, Life in Sale website, 9th December 2025, accessed 9th February 2026.
- ↑ The J.P. Joule (JD Wetherspoon Sale) to reopen following £1.1 million refurbishment, Life in Sale website, 3rd December 2025, accessed 9th February 2026.
- ↑ A LOOK INSIDE... The J.P. Joule, Facebook post (Life in Sale), 9th December 2025, accessed 9th February 2026.