Business

Wetherspoon points to first-half loss as Omicron curbs bite

Advice to limit social contacts before Christmas hit pubs and restaurants

JD Wetherspoon’s pub at The West Quay in Brighton Marina, England. Pubs in Britain were hit by renewed curbs amid the Omicron surge in the UK.

Wed Jan 19 2022 - 08:22

British pub group JD Wetherspoon warned on Wednesday it would record a loss for the first half of the fiscal year after the Omicron coronavirus variant led to renewed curbs in the country and kept people from heading out during the holidays.

Government advice for people to limit social contacts in the run-up to Christmas in response to an Omicron winter surge left pubs and restaurants largely empty during what should be one of their busiest periods.

The pub group, which owns a number of pubs in Ireland, said like-for-like sales fell by 11.7 per cent in the 25 weeks to January 16th, with second-quarter sales hurt by restrictions imposed by Britain in December.

"The uncertainty created by the introduction of Plan B Covid-19 measures makes predictions for sales and profits hazardous," said Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin.

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Mr Martin has been an outspoken critic of the British government’s handling of the health crisis.

The chain also accused British prime minister Boris Johnson and his team of hypocrisy over reports of a drinks party at his official residence during the country's first lockdown when pubs were forced to close.

Wetherspoon also took aim at Britain’s taxation system which it argued favours supermarkets over pubs. – Reuters

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