London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jul 11, 2025

JD Wetherspoon suffers as UK rail strikes hit pub sales

JD Wetherspoon suffers as UK rail strikes hit pub sales

British pubs group JD Wetherspoon said its like-for-like sales had slipped back below pre-pandemic levels in the last 12 weeks, although it remained "cautiously optimistic" on the year.
The impact of rail strikes dented sales hopes for Britain's hospitality sector in its first Christmas season without COVID-19 restrictions in three years.

"Strikes had a negative impact, although it is difficult to quantify," Weatherspoon Chairman Tim Martin told Reuters.

Wetherspoon also noted that costs were far higher than three years ago, especially labour, food, energy and maintenance. The pub chain, often referred to simply as "Spoons" by its younger customers, is priced lower than others in Britain.

Like-for-like sales in the 25 weeks to Jan. 22, roughly its first half, were down 0.7% on pre-pandemic levels.

A positive result in the 14 weeks to Nov. 3 was wiped out by a 2% drop in recent weeks, underscoring the hit to trading during the traditionally strong festive season.

However, like-for-like sales were up 13.1% year-on-year, reflecting the hit which the Omicron variant of COVID-19 had on eating and drinking out at the end of 2021.

"Given the multiple hits consumers are having to their spending power, it may be some time before genuine sales growth returns," Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Derren Nathan said.

Shares of FTSE MidCap (.FTMC) constituent Wetherspoon, which has more than 900 pubs and hotels across Britain and Ireland, were down 2.7% at 1148 GMT, while the index was down 0.07%.

Pub chains Fuller Smith & Turner (FSTA.L) and Revolution Bars Group (RBG.L) this month warned on profit after the rail strikes dented their holiday sales.

Last year's soccer World Cup, usually a crowd-puller for pubs in Britain, had a 'neutral' impact on Wetherspoon, which does not count itself as a sports bar, Martin added.

"As the clouds continue to darken for the hospitality sector, it may be a case of last man standing. Wetherspoon will in our opinion no doubt survive," Nathan added in a note.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
×