WETHERSPOON CHEERS SALES RISE DESPITE SMOKING BAN
PUB operator JD Wetherspoon said today the performance of its
Scottish bars continued to be "encouraging" - giving it hope
that the smoking ban now being rolled out across the rest UK
will have minimal impact.
The company, which has 39 bars in Scotland, including the
Standing Order and Foot of the Walk in Edinburgh, made the
comments as it posted a like-for-like sales increase of 3.4 per
cent for the third quarter of 2007. Overall company sales were
up 7.2 per cent. But in its third quarter trading update, it
also said annual profits would be marginally below market
expectations as it prepares its pubs for the imminent smoking
ban in England, which starts on July 1.
It also said its Welsh pubs had responded in line with Scotland
to the ban coming into force there recently.
