JD Wetherspoon Irish growth plan will focus on Dublin

British pub group JD Wetherspoon is to focus its medium-term Irish growth plans on the Dublin area.

Speaking on the back of a strong third quarter trading update Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin yesterday said the Dublin area is big enough to absorb a number of new openings in the coming years.

The group currently operates five pubs in Ireland — four in suburban Dublin and one in Cork — and has long-term plans to operate 40-50 premises here. While it has undeveloped sites in Carlow and Waterford, these are effectively on the back burner as Dublin has become priority for Wetherspoon’s Irish operations.