JD Wetherspoon Irish pub plans ‘in limbo’

British pub group JD Wetherspoon has effectively put its Irish growth plans on hold until it assesses its performance in city centre locations. It has five pubs in Ireland, four in suburban Dublin and one in Cork, and has plans for more.

However, its progress has been curtailed by slow movement in gaining planning permission for new developments in Dublin city centre.

Speaking yesterday on the back of a strong set of interim results, Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said its Irish bars have been trading well and are, on average, busier than its UK bars.