Wetherspoon boss raps '˜bullying' EU leaders

The Brexit-backing founder chairman of JD Wetherspoon has accused European leaders of taking a 'bullying' approach to the UK as he warned that sales growth at the pub chain has slowed.

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin hit back at the 'hectoring and bullying approach' of European leaders. Picture: Contributed

Tim Martin used a first-quarter trading statement today to criticise German chancellor Angela Merkel, French president Francois Hollande and EC president Jean-Claude Juncker, accusing them of putting European businesses at risk by telling them not to negotiate with UK companies and to adopt an “intransigent” attitude.

“Wetherspoon normally agrees on trade deals with suppliers for three to ten years. If we, and companies like ours, are unable to agree on tariff-free transactions, it will inevitably result in a loss of business for European companies which have done nothing to deserve this outcome,” he said.

One of Wetherspoon's 900-plus UK pubs. Picture: Stephen Kelly/PA

Martin, who campaigned for Leave in the Brexit vote, added that repercussions were possible from irritated UK consumers.

“The ultimate sanction will be in the hands of UK consumers, should they take offence at the hectoring and bullying approach of Juncker and co. French wine, Champagne and spirits, German beer and Swedish cider, for example, are all at extreme risk,” he added.

It came as Wetherspoon, which has more than 70 public houses in Scotland, including Kilmarnock’s Wheatsheaf Inn, said that although same-floorspace sales rose 3.5 per cent in the 13 weeks to 23 October, that slowed down to 2.3 per cent in the final five weeks of the period.

The company, which also owns The Capital Asset in Perth, said it also expects to be hit by higher costs in wages, business rates and repairs, with the level of capital investment in existing pubs rising from £34 million in its last financial year to £60m this year.

Click here to ‘Like’ The Scotsman Business on Facebook