Wetherspoons is planning to open pubs abroad in top holiday hotspots this year
WETHERSPOONS plotting pubs abroad to cater to the growing thirst for the chain of cheap boozers, The Sun can exclusively reveal.
Sir Tim Martin said that Spoons was considering franchises overseas after a string of successful partnerships in the UK.
It means that Brits abroad can soon look forward to Spoons in the sunshine.
The pub boss told The Sun: “We are looking at it. We think there are probably 100 to 200 franchise partnerships in the UK. Now it’s a question of going abroad and it’s a possibility.”
“There is now an opportunity for franchises abroad, but not in China”, Sir Tim Martin said.
Sir Tim agreed that Brits’ favourite holiday spots, such as Alicante, Benidorm and Majorca would make sense for Wetherspoons first pubs abroad where its name is already well known.
However, it could also target winter sun destinations too.
Sir Tim added that a decision on its 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 with Haven at its Primrose Valley site in Yorkshire.
Wetherspoons also have a franchise with the University of Hull and Newcastle University for their student union bars.
Wetherspoons currently has 796 pubs across the UK and Ireland but this would be its first foreign foray.
Last year it emerged that Wetherspoons’ reputation is so-well known that a replica pub, Witherspoons, had been opened in Pattaya, Thailand.
Holidaymakers had been flocking to the pub which serves English breakfasts and cheap pints.
Wetherspoons chair and founder Sir Tim has spoken of his belief Wetherspoons could hit 1,000 pubs across the UK.
In addition to the four Haven sites Wetherspoons plans to open another nine pubs this year including London Bridge station, Fulham Broadway underground, Manchester Airport, Beaconsfield, Wetherby and Bath.
Sir Tim also told The Sun that Wetherspoons could consider snapping up the 115 Crown Post Office branches that have been put at risk of closure in bid to overhaul the postal service.
“I reckon Wetherspoons would get the stamp of approval for that! We could definitely deliver good beer”, he joked.
Sir Tim highlighted that post offices often were large buildings with good architectural features “that make great pubs”.
SPOONS’ CALLS FOR CHANGE AFTER BUDGET
Wetherspoons is still expanding in the UK despite being hit with £60million of extra staffing costs from the Budget.
Sir Tim railed against the hike in increased staffing costs which he said had a “significantly bigger impact on pub and restaurant companies than supermarkets”.
The Wetherspoons chairman has long railed against the different VAT treatment between pubs and supermarkets, which means they can sell much cheaper food and drink.
Supermarkets pay no VAT on food sales whereas pubs pay 20%
Sir Tim said that this meant it was cheaper to host “dull (yawn,yawn) dinner parties” than for Brits to go to the pub.
“I think that if the government wants pubs to survive and values them as an institution, they will have to [change VAT] do it”, he told The Sun.
“It is a clear principle of taxation that taxes should be fair and equitable, as between different types of companies. The VAT distortions that exist today will inevitably create more supermarkets and less pubs.
“Given the public’s love of pubs, the only possible explanation for this tax discrepancy is that prime ministers and other legislators, in the 45 years since Wetherspoon started trading, have been dinner party goers, rather than pub goers.”
He said in Spoons’ results statement: “Wetherspoon therefore calls upon Sir Keir Starmer to redress this imbalance, thereby striking a blow for tax equality and ending discrimination in favour of dull (yawn, yawn) dinner parties.”
It comes as Wetherspoons said that its like-for-like sales were 5.1% higher than the same period last year while over the Christmas period they rose by 6.1%
“Pubs are under threat and we think that Wetherspoons restores some hope”, he said of Brits’ renewed enthusiasm for the boozer chain.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
PUB-GOERS love Wetherspoons for its competitive pricing and low-cost meals - but did you know there are more ways to save money?
Senior consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how.
Free refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in
their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.