‘Spoons fed
It’s official. Pub chain J D Wetherspoon has had “a good recession’ according to the Financial Times, reporting the 750-pub company’s pre-tax profits are up 18% on sales up 4%. It was enough for JDW to reinstate a dividend to shareholders – which will net founder and chairman Tim Martin a cool £6.2m.
Now the group aims to extend its appeal further by opening its pubs at 7am to catch the early-riser breakfast crowd.
A peachy performance?
The country’s top 15 managed pub operators were back in growth in February, recording a 1.3% increase in like-for-likes over the same period last year, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.
The weather is still playing a big part in pubs’ performance, though. Remember the snows of February 09?
More pubs on the market
Pub companies continue to shed poorly performing sites with tenanted pub group Admiral Taverns putting 200 pubs, 10% of its estate, on the market, and S&N Pub Company planning to sell 43.
One pint to put drivers over the limit?
Transport secretary Lord Adonis threatened to cut the drink-drive limit to 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood from the current 80mg, meaning a pint of beer will make most drivers illegal. The government is unlikely to be able to make the change before the election, though.
It’ll take a little time…
Paul Heaton, him out of The Beautiful South, is to embark on a 720-mile cycling tour to promote the British pub. He’s looking for 15 pub venues to play at around the North and Midlands – which will hopefully put him up for the night.
Closing time
The Cavendish Bar in Glasgow became the first pub to by shut down under the new Scottish licensing laws after a customer was found dead – and police discovered 29 weapons hidden on the premises including knives, swords, machetes, axes and baseball bats. Yeah, that would do it.
The Politics of Drinking… and more
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