Wetherspoons founder hits back at EU boasting his pub chain is booming

WETHERSPOONS founder Tim Martin had a pop at the EU and its backers yesterday as he revealed his pub chain was thriving in a post-Brexit vote world.

The mulleted chairman used the occasion of his company’s results to dismiss the Remain campaign’s claims as “lurid.”

The Leave cam­paigner also had a dig at former Chancellor George Osborne, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, the Treasury, IMF, CBI, OECD, “the leaders of all the main political parties” and most of the FTSE 100.

He poured scorn on their “gloomy economic forecasts”, accusing them of failing to “see through the flaws” of the EU.

Remainers had highlighted potential financial fallout of leaving the EU as a reason to stay in.

But Mr Martin said the “general public has a much better perception” than “the consensus of intellectual opinion”.

Mr Martin’s rant came as he revealed record sales at Wetherspoons for the 52 weeks to July 24, up 5.4 per cent year-on-year at £1.6billion. Profit before tax was up 3.6 per cent at £80.6million.

He also said sales since July 24 were “encouraging” — up 4.1 per cent on the period last year.

Mr Martin suggested we do not even need a trade deal with the EU, adding: “The fact that EU countries sell us twice as much as we sell them creates a hugely powerful negotiating position.”

Russ Mould, investment director at stockbroker AJ BELL, said: “Wetherspoons sales have continued to be encouraging.

“It remains to be seen whether this will continue over the rest of the year.”