Wetherspoon’s toasts white wine sales as like-for-like sales grow by 5.1%

The pub group, which now operates 794 pubs, said that like-for-like sales grew by 5.1% in the 12 weeks to 20 July 2025, compared to the same period last year, while year-to-date like-for-like sales also increased by 5.1%. Its financial year ends 27 July 2025.

Five new franchised pubs have opened since last July, while eight freehold reversions, where Wetherspoon was previously the tenant, have been acquired at a cost of £19m.

JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “The company has benefitted from favourable weather in the fourth quarter, so that profits are anticipated to be in line with market expectations, notwithstanding the high tax and labour increases for the hospitality industry, which have been widely reported.

“In the next financial year, as well as investing in areas such as staff rooms, glass racks for “branded” glasses, and gardens, the company plans to open approximately 15 new managed pubs and about the same number of franchised pubs.”

“Sales volumes, which were very slow post-pandemic, have recently overtaken pre-pandemic levels. Wine, for example, has shown strong growth, with Villa Maria from New Zealand and Prosecco from Italy both shooting the lights out. Spirits have improved in recent months and whisky volumes are significantly above pre-pandemic levels.

“Draught volumes are performing strongly with Guinness being the standout performer. On the food front, breakfasts, terribly slow post-pandemic, have recovered their lustre and are now well ahead. Chicken, also, has put in a clucking good performance and volumes in recent weeks are up by about 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels.”