J D Wetherspoon (JDW) is trying to be “as efficient as possible” in coping with labour cost increases, without reducing opening hours or overall staff hours.
Chairman Tim Martin tells MCA the pub chain will endeavour to provide “good service” and draw in customers, despite the pressures on its cost base as a result of the Autumn Budget.
Increases in national minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions are estimated to add c.£60m to JDW’s costs for the 2025 calendar year.
“We just hope that we can provide good service and win converts, especially from supermarkets, who have nicked half [of] pubs’ beer trade since the year 2000,” Martin says.
The company, which operates c.800 pubs across the UK, reported a 5.1% rise in like-for-like sales, both for the year to date and for the 12 weeks to 20 July.
JDW plans to open 15 new managed pubs and a similar number of franchised sites in the next financial year. Martin cited the advantage of having a “huge variety” of locations and assets within the company.
He further tells MCA that a combination of well-designed venues and staff retention helped drive strong sales growth.
“Wetherspoon has won more design awards, I think, than any other company,” Martin adds. “The average Wetherspoon pub manager has been with the company for over 15 years.
“Believing in real ale is another [factor].”
