Wetherspoons reveals major plans to open franchise pubs abroad

WETHERSPOONS is plotting to open its cut-price pubs abroad, The Sun can exclusively reveal.

Boss Sir Tim Martin said the chain is considering franchises overseas after a string of successful partnerships in the UK.

It means Brits abroad can soon look forward to Spoons in the sunshine.

Sir Tim told The Sun: “We are looking at it.

"There are probably 100 to 200 franchise partnerships in the UK.

"Now it’s a question of going abroad and it’s a possibility.”

He agreed opening in Brits’ favourite holiday spots, such as Alicante, Benidorm and Majorca, would make sense, but it could target winter sun destinations too.

He said a decision on the first location was probably six months away.

It comes after Wetherspoons recently announced plans for four more pubs on Haven holiday parks after a successful franchise at the Primrose Valley site, Yorks.

Wetherspoons also has a franchise with Hull and Newcastle Universities for student union bars.

The chain has 796 pubs across the UK and Ireland, but this would be its first foreign foray.

It recently emerged Wetherspoons’ reputation is so well known that a replica pub, Witherspoons, had been opened in Pattaya, Thailand, serving English breakfasts and cheap pints.

Wetherspoons chairman and founder Sir Tim has spoken of his belief the chain could hit 1,000 pubs across the UK.

There are plans to open nine more this year, including at London Bridge Station, Fulham Broadway Underground, Manchester Airport and Beaconsfield, Wetherby and Bath.

It comes as the chain was hit with £60million in extra staffing costs from the Budget.

Sir Tim, left, railed against the increases, which he said had a “significantly bigger impact on pub and restaurant companies than supermarkets”.

He has long campaigned against the different VAT treatment between pubs and supermarkets, which means stores can sell much cheaper food and drink.

Supermarkets pay no VAT on food sales, but pubs pay 20 per cent.

Sir Tim said: “I think if the Government wants pubs to survive and values them as an institution, they will have to [change VAT].

“It is a clear principle of taxation that taxes should be fair and equitable.

"The VAT distortions that exist today will inevitably create more supermarkets and less pubs.

“Wetherspoon therefore calls upon Sir Keir Starmer to redress this imbalance.”

Wetherspoons said its like-for-like sales were 5.1 per cent higher than the same period last year, while over the Christmas period they rose by 6.1 per cent.

REVOLUTION HIT

SHARES in the owner of Revolution Bars tumbled by almost a third yesterday after the cocktail chain hit out at the Budget’s cost burdens.

Boss Rob Pitcher said changes to National Insurance thresholds would be “very damaging”.

He added that the measures “offer no clear pathway for economic growth”.

Revolution said the changes will cost the group £4million.

Pitcher’s comments came as Revel Group emerges from a restructuring plan which it said created “uncertainty” around the business.

JANUARY JITTERS

CONFIDENCE in the economy has slumped in households and boardrooms, a poll says.

Consumers’ jitters over their own finances and the wider economy has sent confidence to a new low, according to a British Retail Consortium survey.

It suggests retailers will face the January blues as Brits cut back spending.

Meanwhile more than half of business leaders expect risks to their firms to increase on last year, according to a poll of 500 by Grayline.

Tech and regulatory changes were considered the top threats.

EASYJET’S AIRPORTS WARNING

EASYJET’S boss has backed Heathrow expansion plans — but has called for “joined-up” thinking as passengers face higher taxes.

Kenton Jarvis, who took over the no-frills airline at the start of this year, said his firm could start flying from Heathrow if another runway was added.

Mr Jarvis said this would give customers “more choice and affordable fares”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said this week she would back a third Heathrow runway — and support Gatwick and Luton expansion proposals later this month — as part of her desperate mission for growth.

But Mr Jarvis highlighted the mooted move being made following the £2 Air Passenger Duty rise for short haul trips which came in last year.

He said: “It’s important the Government is well-coordinated … because it is opening up capacity at the same time as putting up costs.”

BLOW FOR WIND PLAN

WIND power accounted for just one per cent of Britain’s energy yesterday as the weather turned gloomy, cold and still.

Gas provided 60 per cent of the Grid’s power, with 12.5 per cent imported from Europe.

The figures highlight the huge challenge to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s ambitions for the UK to be 95 per cent powered by clean energy by 2030.

Renewables accounted for six per cent of power yesterday, while nuclear and biomass contributed 18 per cent.