Wetherspoons plans to open even more pubs after toasting sunny weather
JD Wetherspoon forecasts a "reasonable" full-year outcome despite rising staff costs, boosted by recent sales figures attributed to favourable weather conditions.
The pub chain, operating 795 locations across the UK, reported a 5.6 per cent increase in like-for-like sales during the 13 weeks leading up to April 27th. Year-to-date, comparable sales have risen by 5.1 per cent.
It now plans to open up in new sites.
Chairman Tim Martin acknowledged the impact of good weather on recent trading, but expressed optimism for the financial year's results.
He said: 'Bearing in mind that recent trading has been helped by favourable weather, the company anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, notwithstanding previously reported wage and tax increases of approximately £1.2 million per week.'
According to The Sun the company is planning pubs in six new locations. These are:
Douglas, Isle of Man - May 14
Fulham, SW London - June 17
Kenilworth, Warwickshire - July 30
Tooley Street, London Bridge - August 28
Basildon, Essex - September 23
Merchant Square, Paddington - late summer
This follows earlier warnings from the group regarding a £60 million surge in labour costs from April onwards, due to increases in both employers' national insurance contributions and the minimum wage.
Mr Martin has cautioned over the impact of the surging wage bill and in January called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cut pub food taxes before the jump in costs linked to last October's Budget.
Wetherspoon said total sales in its most recent quarter were up by a more muted 5 per cent and by 4 per cent year to date as it sold off seven venues.
Mr Martin said the group was also investing in new staff facilities across 520 pubs, with 49 in the current financial year, including new staff rooms and changing rooms at a cost of around £100,000 per site.
He added the chain was trialling a new gourmet burger deal, which he said has 'proved extremely popular'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
29 minutes ago
- BBC News
Developers lodge 200-homes plan on edge of Newbold Verdon
Developers have lodged plans to build 200 homes on farmland on the edge of Newbold Homes has earmarked a 20.7-acre (8.3 hectare) site, off the B585 Bosworth Lane in Leicestershire, for submitted by the firm to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council show the proposed scheme would also include a health and wellbeing hub or community shop and an area of sports pitches and school playing council's planning officers are assessing the application and a decision on whether to grant permission could be made later this year.
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
'It's been a privilege to look after the town for 100 years' Southport florist says
A family-run florist which has played a part "in so many people's lives" is celebrating 100 years in the Florist was opened in 1925 by Bessie Eaton and is now ran by her grandson Peter Eaton and his wife Liz, who are marking the occasion by asking customers to share memories and photographs of the shop. Peter and Elizabeth said: "We have played such a part in so many people's lives over many years, we would really love everyone to be part of our history together."We owe a huge debt to all the dedicated and talented employees that have worked alongside us over many years as a family business." Peter said he was brought up in the shop and remembered ladies parking outside in chauffer driven cars and collecting their flowers for the weekend."I remember being here throughout my youth because my family worked here seven days-a-week and at that time there was no such thing as childcare," he said."I had to come along with my parents and grandparents and spend my very early days in the shop which I have to say was a wonderful experience."Liz met Peter when she was 14 and worked as a Saturday girl in the shop. She officially joined the business in the 80s after she and Peter had their first chid."Southport was a booming town and we had the most amazing clientele," she said."It was such a good time because in the 80s the high street was busy, everyone was shopping."We had such beautiful hotels and venues and everyone had big weddings so flowers were fabulous way to fill these big spaces." The shop got its name after Bessie's daughter June, who went onto become very involved with the running of the shop Bessie and June were heavily involved with the Southport Flower Show, where they served on the committee for many years and achieved the title 'Best In Show' five was also a founding member of the Interflora network, which is now an internationally recognised flower delivery service."She created quite a difference in the industry," Peter said. The team are inviting customers to join them for the centenary celebration at the Lord Street shop on Saturday between 14:00 BST until 17:00 BST. "I know quite a few old members of staff are coming in and they're bringing their photographs. It's going to be interesting to see old faces that we've not seen for many years." Peter added."The success of this business for 100 years is based purely on the wonderful people who've worked for us and the wonderful clientele who have been so loyal to us for 100 years."It's been a privilege to look after the town for so many years as a family I don't think there's many family businesses that keep going for a 100 years anymore so we're very proud of it. It's a team event no doubt."Bessie would have expected nothing less." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
34 minutes ago
- BBC News
Job cuts fears as University of Derby plans college mergers
A union has warned the University of Derby will be "weaker" as part of proposed changes which it is feared could lead to job internal announcement made to staff, seen by the BBC, states there would be a "reduction in posts" and the university's four colleges would be merged into two as part of the plans.A spokesperson for the University of Derby said the changes were to "ensure the university's long-term sustainability".UNISON East Midlands head of higher education Elliot Dean said: "Cutting these jobs will hit Derby hard." "You can't provide a first-class university experience without the people who make it happen," he added."Fewer staff means poorer services, less support for students and, ultimately, a weaker university. "Derby deserves a well-resourced institution that invests in its people, not one that trims away the very teams who bring learning and innovation to life."UNISON said it was in the early stages of negotiations with the university and the number of redundancies has not yet been internal email sent to staff states the planned merging of the university colleges would be effective from 1 August this current four colleges will become two - the College of Health and Humanities and the College of Science and adds: "As part of these proposals, we are reviewing academic leadership roles in areas where the change to our colleges will mean we have duplication. "We are also looking at downsizing our professional services management and leadership to align closer to our student base. "Regrettably, this includes some reduction in posts. Those directly affected have already been contacted, and we are now in consultation with them and the relevant unions." 'Gold standard teaching' A spokesperson at the University of Derby said: "We are the only university in the city and county, contributing millions to the economic prosperity of the region, and we have a responsibility to ensure our long-term sustainability in order to remain one of the area's largest employers and providers of higher education."To ensure we are best positioned to do this, and that we can continue to deliver an outstanding, gold standard teaching and learning experience, we have made proposals which would see us reorganising our academic colleges and aligning our professional services leadership more in line with our student population. "Some roles may well be impacted by these changes."In addition, our standalone Derby Business School, which is on track to exceed recruitment targets this year, will welcome students from across the world to Derby. "Applications are up across the board and these changes will contribute to our continued growth."The announcement has come two months after a round of redundancies were announced for research leadership roles, professors and associate move was criticised by the University and College Union (UCU), which said the cuts would "cause lasting damage to Derby's academic reputation".
