JD Wetherspoon has reported a 5.1 per cent increase in like-for-like sales for the three months ending 20 July, driven by strong demand for Guinness and a recovery in breakfast sales. The pub group, which operates 794 establishments across the UK and Ireland, said sales volumes have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Chairman Tim Martin highlighted Guinness as the standout performer in draught sales, alongside growth in wine and spirits. Breakfasts, which had been slow since the pandemic, have recovered and are now well ahead of pre-pandemic levels. Chicken sales have also surged, with volumes up about 50 per cent compared to before the pandemic.
Favourable weather during the period boosted visitor numbers, allowing pubs to capitalise on their beer gardens. Despite the positive sales, Wetherspoon warned of a £60 million hit from higher business costs, including increases to employers' national insurance and the minimum wage.
Martin reiterated his call for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to equalise VAT on food between pubs and supermarkets, arguing that the current 20 per cent rate for restaurants and pubs versus zero for shops gives supermarkets an unfair advantage. He warned that this distortion could lead to fewer pubs.
Wetherspoon said it expects to meet profit forecasts for the year and plans to invest in its pubs, including staff rooms and gardens.
