British pub chain JD Wetherspoon eyes Irish regions

British pub group JD Wetherspoon said it remains hopeful it will be granted permission to open new bars at Abbey Street and Camden Street in Dublin, as well as developing two more sites in Carlow and Waterford.

Shares in London rose by as much as 4% as JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said sales on a like-for-like basis in the UK and Ireland rose 3% in the 12 weeks to January 15, the second quarter of its fiscal year.

Mr Martin warned, however, that the firm’s wage bill was expected to rise by around 4%, and incur £9m (€10.3m) in additional business costs.