Pub chain sees drop in sales

JD Wetherspoon has revealed slowing sales and said it is facing “substantially higher” costs across the group.

The pub chain saw like-for-like sales drop 1.1% in the five weeks to November 6, when compared with pre-pandemic trading in 2019, having risen by 1.5% in the previous nine weeks.

Compared with a year ago, sales rose 10.1% in the first nine weeks of its financial year and were 8.9% higher in the past five weeks.

It said trading was “broadly” in line with its expectations but that October had been a slower month.

“Costs, especially in respect of labour, food and repairs, were substantially higher” in the first quarter, the group added. Shares in the firm fell 3% in early trading yesterday.