The pubco revealed lfl sales across its estate were 5.1% higher in the 25 weeks to 19 January 2025 than the same period a year ago.
Bar sales were up by 4.5%, food by 5.6% and slot/fruit machines by 11.7%. However, hotel room sales decreased by 6.5%.
Lfl sales for the last 12 weeks of the 25-week period, the second quarter of the financial year, were 4.6% higher year-on-year, the report showed.
In addition, lfl sales for the main Christmas period, from 16th December 2024 to 5th January 2025, saw a 6.1% uptick.
Meanwhile total sales have grown by 4% in the year to date, attributed to a small number of disposals.
Six pubs have been sold in the past year, giving to rise to a cash inflow of £4.1m. JDW currently has a trading estate of 796 pubs.
In the year-to-date, the company also opened two pubs - in Marlow, Buckinghamshire and at London Waterloo station.
Increased costs
This year, JDW said it planned to open a total of nine pubs, including sites at London Bridge station, Fulham Broadway underground station, Manchester Airport, Beaconsfield, Wetherby and Bath.
In addition, a further 4 franchised pubs are set to open at Haven Holiday Parks, bringing its total number of franchises to seven.
The trading update also revealed the interest costs for FY25 were expected to be around £47m, compared with £53m in 2024.
Debt levels at the end of FY25 was anticipated to be between £680m and £700m (FY24: £660 million).
Following the results, JDW chairman Tim Martin explained while the company was “confident” of a reasonable outcome for the year, forecasting had been made “difficult” by increasing costs.
Bigger impact
He said: “From 1 April 2025 labour-related costs at Wetherspoon will increase by around £60m per annum.
“Government-mandated wage increases have a significantly bigger impact on pub and restaurant companies than supermarkets.”
Martin also repeated pleas for the Government to balance the VAT “distortions” between the on and off trade.
He continued: “As previously highlighted, supermarkets pay no VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs pay 20%.
“This tax advantage allows supermarkets to subsidise the price of beer they sell.
“It is a clear principle of taxation that taxes should be fair and equitable, as between different types of companies.
“The VAT distortions that exist today will inevitably create more supermarkets and less pubs.”
