Wetherspoons' Tim Martin urges tax cuts for pub food amid Budget concerns

JD Wetherspoon's chairman, Tim Martin, is urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to cut taxes on pub food as the company faces a £60 million increase in labor costs due to upcoming budget changes. Despite offloading some venues, Wetherspoon reported a 5.1% rise in like-for-like sales over the past half-year, driven by a 5.6% increase in food sales. Martin criticized the current VAT system, where pubs and restaurants pay 20% while supermarkets pay zero, arguing that it creates a competitive disadvantage for pubs. He claimed this tax disparity is leading to more supermarket dominance and fewer pubs. Additionally, Wetherspoon saw a 6.1% sales boost during the Christmas period, although it lagged behind competitors like Marston's and Young's. The company currently operates 796 pubs after recent sales and openings.