The news comes as JDW boss Sir Tim Martin recently said that he would be “anxious” if there were any further increase in costs such as national insurance, minimum wage and business rates.
In a trading update for the 13-week period to 27 April 2025 JDW revealed like-for-like sales increased by 5.6% compared to the same period last year, helped by favourable weather. In the year to date like-for-like sales increased by 5.1%.
The the 795-strong pub operator said total sales increased by 5% in the quarter and by 4.2% for the year to date.
Total sales were slightly less than like-for-like sales as a result of a small number of pub disposals and in the year to date the company has opened two pubs and sold seven.
Pub openings
JDW added it intends to open a further four or five pubs in this financial year and approximately 10 pubs in the following financial year.
Seven freehold reversions, where Wetherspoon was previously the tenant, have been acquired in the year to date at a total cost of £17m.
An additional seven pubs now operate under a franchise agreement, four of which opened during the last quarter, all operated by Haven Holiday Parks.
They are: The Red Rocks, Devon Cliffs, Devon; The Humber Stone, Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire; The London Stone, Kent Coast, Kent; The Sir Thomas Haggerston, Haggerston Castle, Northumberland.
Chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, said: “The company’s main ambition, as always, is to improve its appeal to staff and customers.
In this connection, for example, the company has invested in new staff facilities in 520 pubs (49 in the current year), including staff rooms and changing rooms, with approximately 270 planned for the future.
“The investment per pub is approximately £100,000.”
Evolution of product range
He added: “The product range for customers continues to evolve.
“For example, the company has recently introduced, nationwide, the highly regarded Jaipur traditional ale from the Thornbridge Brewery, as well as renowned international beer brands, Kronenbourg 1664 Biere and Poretti.”
Martin revealed new menu initiatives, including a gourmet burger offer, had proved extremely popular in the pubs they have been trialled.
“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 £1.2m per week,” he said.
In the year to date, the company has purchased 7,236,487 of its own shares for cancellation at an average price of £5.76 a share.
It said it currently anticipates year-end net debt of between £720m and £740m, with headroom, under existing facilities, of approximately £200m.
