Wetherspoon eyeing more Irish pubs

British pub operator, JD Wetherspoon has said that its Irish operations are performing well and it is continuing to look for additional sites around the country.

The group currently operates three pubs here — having opened in Blackrock, Co Dublin; and Dun Laoghaire last year and just last month in Blanchardstown — with two more openings (Swords, Co Dublin next Tuesday and Cork in early September) pending. The group yesterday issued a pre-close full-year statement — for the 12 months to the end of July —ahead of its annual results’ announcement in September.

In it, the company said that like-for-like sales, for the 11 weeks to July 12 increased by 2.9%; with total sales up by 6.5%. In the year to date, Wetherspoon said that its total sales are up by 7.6%. However, the company has stated that it is unlikely that full-year pre-tax profits will be higher than last year, when it reported a profit (after exceptional items) of £78.4m (€111.3m).