Preliminary Results
RNS Number : 3165XWetherspoon (JD) PLC02 October 20262nd October 2026
J D WETHERSPOON PLC
PRELIMINARY RESULTS
(For the 52 weeks ended 26th July 2026)
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Var %
Before separately disclosed items
Like-for-like sales (vs FY2025)
+4.2%
Revenue £2,238m (2025: £2,127.5m)
+5.2%
Profit before tax £58.6m (2025: £81.4m)
-28.0%
Operating profit £120.2m (2025: £146.4m)
-17.9%
Basic earnings per share 42.4p (2025: 50.8p)
-16.6%
Free cash inflow per share 92.4p (2025: 47.3p)
+95.3%
Full year dividend 12.0p (2025: 12.0p)
.
After separately disclosed items1
Profit before tax £77.7m (2025: £89.3m)
-13.0%
Operating profit £120.6m (2025: £142.2m)
-15.2%
Basic earnings per share 59.5p (2025: 60.0p)
-0.8%
1Separately disclosed items as disclosed in account note 3.
Commenting on the results, Tim Martin, the Chairman of J D Wetherspoon plc, said:
“In the last nine weeks, to 27 September 2026, like-for-like sales increased by 8.6%, helped, no doubt, by exceptional weather.
The company has made substantial progress in recent years in increasing the number of beer gardens and outside seating areas.
This has resulted in sales improving in hot weather whereas, in the past, sales sometimes declined.
The latest ‘NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker’, for August 2026, said industry like-for-like sales were +0.8%. During this period, Wetherspoon like-for-like sales were +7.7%. This was the 48th month in a row that Wetherspoon has outperformed the tracker.
The hospitality industry, as many commentators and companies have noted, has borne the brunt of government-led tax and regulatory cost increases, especially in the last two budgets. This has resulted in pubs becoming even more expensive than supermarkets, leading to job losses, closures and high street dereliction.
It is to be hoped that the powers-that-be will refrain from any further increases, since pubs and restaurants pay around 40% of their receipts as taxes of one sort or another - and provide immense financial support to the Treasury, as well as social support to the community.
In addition, as Jacques Borel, Tom Kerridge and multifarious individuals and organisations have noted, including, indeed, the Prime Minister and other party leaders, VAT is the main culprit in the disparity with supermarkets - and the hospitality industry will not be able to survive or thrive unless taxes and other costs are equalised.
Wetherspoon has made a good start to the financial year, although it is at least partially due to weather, which will inevitably revert to the norm. At this early stage, we continue to anticipate profit before tax and separately disclosed items in line with current market expectations1.”
1Company compiled consensus for FY27 profit before tax and separately disclosed items is £74 million.
Enquiries:
John Hutson Chief Executive Officer 01923 477777
Ben Whitley Finance Director 01923 477777
Eddie Gershon Company spokesman 07956 392234
Notes to editors
- J D Wetherspoon owns and operates pubs throughout the UK. The Company aims to provide customers with good-quality food and drink, served by well-trained and friendly staff, at reasonable prices. The pubs are individually designed and the Company aims to maintain them in excellent condition.
- Visit our website jdwetherspoon.com
- The financial information set out in the announcement does not constitute the company’s statutory accounts for the periods ended 26 July 2026 or 27 July 2025. The financial information for the period ended 27 July 2025 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on those accounts: their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for 2026 will be delivered to the registrar of companies in due course. This announcement has been prepared solely to provide additional information to the shareholders of J D Wetherspoon, in order to meet the requirements of the UK Listing Authority’s Disclosure and Transparency Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party, for other purposes. Forward-looking statements have been made by the directors in good faith using information available up until the date that they approved this statement. Forward-looking statements should be regarded with caution because of inherent uncertainties in economic trends and business risks.
- The annual report and financial statements 2026 has been published on the Company’s website on 2 October 2026.
- The current financial year comprises 53 trading weeks to 1 August 2027.
- The next trading update will be issued on 4 November 2026.
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Financial performance
The company was founded in 1979 – and this is the 43rd year since incorporation in 1983. The table below outlines some key aspects of our performance during that period
Financial year
Total number
of pubs
(sites)
Total sales
£000
Profit/(loss)
before tax and separately disclosed items
£000
Earnings per
share before
separately disclosed items
pence3
Free cash flow
£000
Free cash flow
per share
pence2,3
1985
2
1,890
185
0.2
1986
2
2,197
219
0.2
1987
5
3,357
382
0.3
1988
6
3,709
248
0.3
1989
9
5,584
789
0.6
915
0.4
1990
19
7,047
603
0.4
732
0.4
1991
31
13,192
1,098
0.8
1,236
0.6
1992
45
21,380
2,020
1.9
3,563
2.1
1993
67
30,800
4,171
3.3
5,079
3.9
1994
87
46,600
6,477
3.6
5,837
3.6
1995
110
68,536
9,713
4.9
13,495
7.4
1996
146
100,480
15,200
7.8
20,968
11.2
1997
194
139,444
17,566
8.7
28,027
14.4
1998
252
188,515
20,165
9.9
28,448
14.5
1999
327
269,699
26,214
12.9
40,088
20.3
2000
428
369,628
36,052
11.8
49,296
24.2
2001
522
483,968
44,317
14.2
61,197
29.1
2002
608
601,295
53,568
16.6
71,370
33.5
2003
635
730,913
56,139
17.0
83,097
38.8
2004
643
787,126
54,074
17.7
73,477
36.7
20054
655
809,861
47,177
16.9
68,774
37.1
2006
657
847,516
58,388
24.1
69,712
42.1
2007
671
888,473
62,024
28.1
52,379
35.6
2008
694
907,500
58,228
27.6
71,411
50.6
2009
731
955,119
66,155
32.6
99,494
71.7
2010
775
996,327
71,015
36.0
71,344
52.9
2011
823
1,072,014
66,781
34.1
78,818
57.7
2012
860
1,197,129
72,363
39.8
91,542
70.4
2013
886
1,280,929
76,943
44.8
65,349
51.8
2014
927
1,409,333
79,362
47.0
92,850
74.1
2015
951
1,513,923
77,798
47.0
109,778
89.8
2016
926
1,595,197
80,610
48.3
90,485
76.7
2017
895
1,660,750
102,830
69.2
107,936
97.0
2018
883
1,693,818
107,249
79.2
93,357
88.4
2019
879
1,818,793
102,459
75.5
96,998
92.0
20206
872
1,262,048
(44,687)
(35.5)
(58,852)
(54.2)
2021
861
772,555
(154,676)
(119.2)
(83,284)
(67.8)
2022
852
1,740,477
(30,448)
(19.6)
21,922
17.3
2023
825
1,925,044
42,559
26.4
271,095
211.4
2024
800
2,035,500
73,875
46.8
33,037
26.4
2025
794
2,127,524
81,445
48.1
56,642
47.3
2026
792
2,238,023
58,609
39.8
100,146
92.4
Notes
Adjustments to statutory numbers
1. Where appropriate, the earnings/losses per share (EPS), as disclosed in the statutory accounts, have been recalculated to take account of share splits,the issue of new shares and capitalisation issues.
2. Free cash flow per share excludes dividends paid which were included in the free cash flow calculations in the annual report and accounts for the years 1995–2000.
3. EPS and free cash flow per share are calculated using dilutive shares in issue.
4. Before 2005, the accounts were prepared under UKGAAP. All accounts from 2005 to date have been prepared under IFRS.
5. Apart from the items in notes 1–4, all numbers are as reported in each year’s published accounts.
6. From financial year 2020 data is based on post-IFRS 16 numbers following the transition from IAS17 to IFRS 16.
Overview
Wetherspoon sales in FY26 (financial year 2026) were £2,238 million, a 5.2% increase compared to FY25 and a 23% increase (£419 million) compared to the pre-pandemic year of FY19.
The company had 792 pubs at the FY26 period end, two fewer than FY25 and 87 fewer than FY19.
FY26 sales per pub were 36.6% above FY19, higher than the level of CPI inflation (33.0%). However, costs of energy (+77.4%, £40 million), repairs (+84.5%, £60 million) and wages (+64.4%, £325 million), which have a heavy influence on most other input prices, rose more than sales, so that profit and earnings are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Government-led tax and cost increases have weighed heavily on the hospitality industry in recent years – examples of increases include national insurance, non-domestic electricity charges, climate change and packaging levies.
The company has been campaigning, for many years, for VAT equality between the hospitality industry and supermarkets.
Supermarkets pay virtually no VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs pay 20%. This has enabled supermarkets to subsidise the price of alcoholic drinks, widening the price gap between the on and off trade, to the detriment of pubs and restaurants.
It is a principle of taxation that taxes should be fair and equitable, and this patent imbalance is economically inefficient, contributing to job losses and high street dereliction.
Common sense and economic principle surely indicate that a sensible rebalancing of taxes would generate more jobs and more revenue for the government.
In 2014, French VAT campaigner Jacques Borel launched a nationwide ‘Tax Equality Day’. Wetherspoon participated in the original campaign and has continued to hold an annual VAT Equality Day – culminating in our most successful day yet on 17 September this year.
More recently, the company has supported ‘VAT’s The Problem’ campaign, launched by chef and publican Tom Kerridge. Tom’s petition calls on the government to reduce VAT from 20% to 10%, which would bring the UK more into line with countries such as France, Spain and Italy.
In the last year or so, the VAT campaign has gathered momentum, with support, in terms, from diverse voices in the political spectrum, including the Prime Minister, Reform and the Scottish government – although there is a perverse reluctance to get behind the campaign in some quarters, as discussed in appendix 1 below.
Trading summary
Total sales in FY26, as indicated above, were £2,238 million, an increase of 5.2% compared to the previous year. Like-for-like (LFL) sales increased by 4.2% - bar sales by 6.1%, food by 1.2%, slot/fruit machines by 7.4% and hotel rooms by 1.3%.
Operating profit, before separately disclosed items, was £120.2 million (2025: £146.4 million).
The reduction was mainly due to higher costs, which increased by 5.3%. These included wage increases of £46 million, repairs of £31 million and business rates of £9 million.
The operating margin, before separately disclosed items, was 5.37% (2025: 6.88%).
Profit, before tax and separately disclosed items, was £58.6 million (2025: £81.4 million).
Property
Eight Wetherspoon managed pubs opened in the year and there were 15 disposals - 10 trading pubs and five non-trading properties, giving rise to a cash inflow of £10.1 million.
At the end of the period, 792 managed pubs were trading. There are plans to open approximately 15 managed pubs in the current financial year, excluding franchises.
Franchises
15 franchised pubs opened in the period, bringing the total number to 23. The company anticipates opening approximately 15 to 20 in the current financial year. Those opened so far have performed very well, with encouraging sales levels and operating standards.
Earnings
Earnings per share, before separately disclosed items, were 42.4p (2025: 50.8p).
Capital investment
Total capital investment was £74.2 million (2025: £117.0 million). £28.7 million was invested in new pubs and pub extensions (2025: £24.1 million), £26.3 million in existing pubs (2025: £62.5 million), £5.6 million in business and IT projects (2025: £11.6 million) and £13.6 million in freehold reversions of properties where Wetherspoon was the tenant (2025: £18.7 million).
Separately disclosed items
Overall, there was a pre-tax ‘separately disclosed gain’ of £19.1 million (2025: £7.9 million gain). This was made up of the following credits:
• £7.8 million relating to the amortisation of the hedge reserve to the P&L (please see below);
• £13.0 million relating to the movement in fair value of interest-rate swaps;
• £0.3 million net impairment reversal;
• £0.4 million relating to property income;
In addition, there was one charge:
• £2.4 million relating to property disposals;
The full details of separately disclosed items are listed in note 3 of the accounts on page 25-26.
As regards the £7.8 million credit, the company cancelled some interest rate swaps in 2023 but, even though the funds were received immediately (£169
million in total), accounting rules require the benefit to be recognised in the income statement over the life of the original instrument.
Operating profit, after separately disclosed items, was £120.6 million (2025: £142.2 million).
Profit before tax, after separately disclosed items, was £77.7 million (2025: £89.3 million).
Earnings per share, after separately disclosed items, were 59.5p (2025: 60.0p).
The tax effect on separately disclosed items is a charge of £1.8 million (2025: credit of £2.5 million).
Net book value
The net book value of assets at the end of the period was £1.39 billion, which is 7.6 times EBITDA for the last 12 months (£181.2 million) – freeholds have not been revalued since 1999.
Free cash flow
There was a free cash inflow of £100.1 million (2025: £56.6 million), after capital payments of £31.9 million for existing pubs, business and IT projects (2025: £74.1 million), £28.5 million of share purchases for the employee share scheme (2025: £22.8 million) and payments of tax and interest.
The inflow of £100.1 million benefited from an increase in working capital of £33.5 million. The underlying free cash flow, or “economic profit”, was therefore £66.6 million (2025: £72.6 million). Economic profit, in effect, amounts to free cash flow, minus working capital movements. As we understand it, this approximates to Warren Buffet’s definition of “owners’ earnings”.
Balance sheet
Net debt, excluding IFRS-16 lease liabilities, was £715.8 million at the period end (27 July 2025: £724.3 million).
On an IFRS-16 basis, including lease liabilities, debt decreased from £1.12 billion to £1.11 billion at the end of the period.
Overall debt, including lease liabilities, was first reported in the interim report for FY20, following the introduction of new accounting standards. Overall debt was then £1.39 billion, made up of lease liabilities of £0.58 billion and bank and other borrowings of £0.80 billion. IFRS 16 debt has declined by 20% since this time.
Dividends and return of capital
The board proposes, subject to consent at the AGM, to pay a final dividend of 8.0p (2025: 8.0p) per share. The dividend will be paid on 26 November 2026 to shareholders who are on the register of members at close of business on 23 October 2026 (the Record Date), resulting in a total dividend for the year of 12.0p per share (2025: 12.0p). The dividend is covered 3.3 times (2025: 4.0 times).
During the period, 6,960,981 shares (6.2% of the start-of-year share capital) were purchased by the company for cancellation, at a cost of £46.0 million, including stamp duty and fees, representing an average cost per share of £6.56.
Financing
The company had total available finance facilities of £840 million at the financial year end. In June 2026, the facility was extended by a further year up to June 2030.
On 17 August 2026, the company signed a new £25 million banking agreement that runs coterminous with the main facility.
On 20 August 2026, a £98 million private placement matured, and this was repaid from existing facilities. The company decided that it would not renew the private placement for the time being, since it had sufficient headroom from banking facilities.
On 10 August 2026, the company took out a new interest-rate swap of £500.0 million from 6 February 2030 to 6 February 2032 at a rate of 4.45%.
The company has the following interest rates swaps in place:
Swap Value
Start Date
End Date
Weighted Average %
£400m
06-Feb-25
06-Feb-28
4.23%
£200m
06-Feb-25
06-Feb-28
4.14%
£500m
07-Feb-28
06-Feb-30
4.00%
£500m
06-Feb-30
06-Feb-32
4.45%
The total cost of debt in the period, including the banks’ margin was 6.11% (27 July 2025: 6.57%).
Taxation
The total tax charge for the period was £15.5 million in respect of profit before separately disclosed items (2025: £23.9 million).
The total tax charge comprises two parts. The first part is the actual current tax (the ‘cash’ tax) which this year is £15.8 million (2025: £11.8 million). The second part is deferred tax (the ‘accounting’ tax), which is tax payable in future periods that must be recognised in the current period for accounting purposes. The accounting tax credit for the period is £0.3 million (2025: £12.1 million charge).
The current tax rate is higher than the UK standard weighted average tax rate owing to non-qualifying depreciation.
Wetherspoon News
In the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of Wetherspoon News, we have tried to define some of the main challenges facing pubs and the hospitality industry, an area of intense public concern.
Two of the challenges, taxation and energy, are detailed in this statement.
The third is the revival of the temperance movement, which appears to have won over large sections of the mainstream media and the medical profession
(see pages 4-5 of Wetherspoon News
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/WNEWS-Spring-summer-2026.pdf)
Scottish business rates
As we did last year, in appendix 2 below, we explain how business rates for Scottish pubs, theoretically based on property values, have, by a strange process of legal reasoning, become a de facto sales tax, based on the sales performance of the occupier.
How pubs contribute to the economy
As previously stated, Wetherspoon and other pub and restaurant companies have always generated far more in taxes than is earned in profit.
In the financial year ended 26 July 2026, the company, its staff and customers generated taxes of £891.0 million. The table below shows the £6.6 billion of tax revenue generated in the last ten years
Each pub, on average, generated £7.9 million in tax during that period. The tax generated by the company, during the period, equates to approximately 30 times the company’s profit after tax.
Republic of Ireland pubs generated approximately €11.1 million of Irish tax contributions during the year, of which €5.9 million related to VAT, €2.6 million alcohol duty and €2.1 million employment taxes
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
TOTAL
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
£m
VAT
432.3
411.2
394.7
372.3
287.7
93.8
244.3
357.9
332.8
323.4
3,250.4
Alcohol duty
179.6
166.5
163.7
166.1
158.6
70.6
124.2
174.4
175.9
167.2
1,546.8
PAYE and NIC
174.1
153.6
134.7
124.0
141.9
101.5
106.6
121.4
109.2
96.2
1,263.2
Business rates
42.6
42.2
41.3
49.9
50.3
1.5
39.5
57.3
55.6
53.0
433.2
Corporation tax
16.2
21.9
9.9
12.2
1.5
-
21.5
19.9
26.1
20.7
149.9
Fruit/slot Machine duty
19.7
18.2
16.7
15.7
12.8
4.3
9.0
11.6
10.5
10.5
129.0
Environmental levies
12.8
13.9
10.2
11.1
9.7
7.9
10.0
9.6
9.2
9.7
104.1
Stamp duty
0.6
1.2
1.1
0.9
2.7
1.8
4.9
3.7
1.2
5.1
23.2
Sugar tax
2.8
2.7
2.6
3.1
2.7
1.3
2.0
2.9
0.8
-
20.9
Fuel duty
4.1
1.9
2.0
1.9
1.9
1.1
1.7
2.2
2.1
2.1
21.0
Apprenticeship levy
3.1
2.7
2.5
2.5
2.2
1.9
1.2
1.3
1.7
0.6
19.7
Carbon tax
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.9
3.0
3.4
8.3
Premise licence and TV licences
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.1
0.8
0.7
0.8
6.4
Landfill tax
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.7
2.5
4.2
Insurance tax
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
2.2
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
2.3
0.8
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3.1
Furlough tax
-
-
-
-
-4.4
-213.0
-124.1
-
-
-
-341.5
Eat out to help out
-
-
-
-
-
-23.2
-
-
-
-
-23.2
Local government grants
-
-
-
-
-1.4
-11.1
-
-
-
-
-12.5
TOTAL TAX
891.0
837.6
780.2
760.4
666.9
39.1
442.1
765.1
730.7
695.3
6,608.4
TAX PER PUB (£m)
1.13
1.05
0.98
0.92
0.78
0.05
0.51
0.87
0.83
0.78
7.90
TAX AS % OF NET SALES
39.8%
39.4%
38.3%
39.5%
38.3%
5.1%
35.0%
42.1%
43.1%
41.9%
36.3%
Profit/Loss after tax
42.5
57.6
58.5
33.8
-24.9
-146.5
-38.5
79.6
83.6
76.9
222.3
Note – this table is prepared on a cash basis, is UK only and post IFRS-16 from FY20 onward. The table excludes franchised pubs. On the basis that franchised pubs generate taxes at the same rate as Wetherspoon pubs (on a per pub basis), this would give rise to an additional £17.0 million from franchises.
Kryptonite
Wetherspoon has been a strong critic of the composition of the boards of UK-quoted companies.
As we said last year, directors of UK PLCs have, on average, relatively little experience of the companies they govern, due to the “nine-year rule”, which limits their tenure, combined with the fact that most directors are part-time, and have never worked for the company in question on a full-time basis.
In addition, those responsible for overseeing governance, among institutional shareholders, are often responsible for several hundred companies each, making genuine board engagement impossible, and thereby necessitating a “tick-box” approach, which is the antithesis of good governance.
The combination of arbitrary rules, the preponderance of part-time directors and overloaded institutional governance departments means that bureaucracy and virtue-signalling, rather than innovation and efficiency, dominate most UK PLC boardrooms.
In appendix 3 below, further details are provided on this issue from our FY23 annual report.
From a cursory glance at the annual reports of the largest American PLCs, probably the most successful companies in business history, it would appear that the chairmen of the FANGs (Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google etc) all contravene the UK’s nine-year rule. All governments say they want to attract investment, but the current rules are clearly Kryptonite to world-class companies such as these.
Further progress
The company’s UK nominated charity is Young Lives vs. Cancer. It supports children and young people with cancer. Customers and employees raised £2.2 million in the year, taking the total raised since the partnership began in 2002 to over £27 million.
In the Republic of Ireland, the nominated charity is LauraLynn, a hospice for children with life-limiting conditions and residential care for children and young adults with disabilities. Over €200,000 has been raised since the partnership began in 2015.
Wetherspoon is a member of a number of pub trade associations and charities, including UK Hospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, Drinkaware, National Pubwatch, Zero Carbon Forum, The Sustainable Restaurant Association, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange and the Licensed Trade Charity.
In January 2024, the company was awarded the highest rating by the Sustainable Restaurant Association – the world’s largest accreditation scheme for pubs and restaurants.
Wetherspoon uses 100% UK and Irish beef for its food menu, traceable from farm to fork.
100% of the eggs served on the menu are free range. All shell eggs are certified with the British Lion quality mark and are RSPCA assured.
Wetherspoon is seeking to extend the appeal of its menu. For example, 44% of the dishes on the menu
that is available in the majority of pubs are vegetarian,
15% are vegan and 23% are under 500 calories.
311 pubs feature in CAMRA’s 2027 Good Beer Guide, an increase of 35 compared to last year. 53 Wetherspoon pubs have been in the guide for 10 consecutive years or more.
Guinness has a ‘Quality Accreditation Programme’. Independent assessors review 17 aspects of quality. All Wetherspoon pubs achieved their Guinness accreditation in 2025 and the company will report on the 2026 accreditations, which are currently taking place, in due course.
Since 1999, Wetherspoon has worked with independent real-ale quality assessor Cask Marque to gauge the quality of ale being served in its pubs. Cask Marque carries out an 11-point ‘Beer & Cellar Hygiene Audit’ covering stock rotation, beer line cleanliness, equipment maintenance, glass washing cleanliness and hygiene. A star rating is awarded from 1 to 5, with a target of 4 to 5 stars for all pubs. Cask Marque state that 66% of UK pubs achieve 4 or 5 stars. 100% of Wetherspoon pubs have achieved 5 stars.
In 2025, Wetherspoon was awarded Bronze in ‘Britain's Most Admired Companies 2025’, in the Restaurant and Pubs category.
In 2026, Wetherspoon was voted the ‘Best Airport Retailer for Food & Beverages’ and won silver as the ‘Best Rail Station & Beverage Outlet’ at the British Travel Awards.
772 of the company’s washrooms have been awarded the highest platinum or diamond statuses at the 2025 National Loo of the Year awards.
Sustainability, recycling and the environment
As stated last year, wherever possible, Wetherspoon separates waste into nine streams: food waste; glass; tins/cans; cooking oil; paper/cardboard; plastic; waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE); Tetra Pak cartons; and general waste.
Wetherspoon’s national distribution centre, at Daventry, also includes an in-house 24-hour recycling centre, with a dedicated workforce and specialist equipment. When making deliveries to pubs, lorries collect recycling, used cooking oil and reusable items for return to the recycling centre – so reducing the company’s carbon footprint from reduced road miles.
9,444 tonnes of recyclable waste were processed during the period at our national recycling centre. In addition, food waste is sent for ‘anaerobic digestion’ and used cooking oil is converted to biodiesel for agricultural use.
Wetherspoon increased the proportion of waste recycled by 3% compared to last year, with 70% of all pub waste now being recycled. In the last 24 months, 100% of waste collected from Wetherspoon pubs by Veolia was diverted from landfill. Our progress in this area was recognised at the 2025 Let’s Recycle Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management, where we received a ‘Highly Commended’ award for our resource and waste-management partnership with DHL Envirosolutions and Veolia.
Automated meter readers for electricity and gas, which provide half-hourly consumption data, are installed in the majority of pubs to facilitate energy consumption reporting. We have completed a rollout of 100 automated meter readers for water in our highest consuming sites, with further plans to install in the rest of the estate in due course.
Combined electricity and gas consumption reduced by 11.7% in the year, as a result of operational efficiencies. At the year-end around 10% [83] of the pubs were operating with fully electric kitchens following the removal of gas equipment.
The average bin weight for general waste has reduced by 3kg in the year, compared to the prior year, and now represents an 11kg reduction in the average general waste bin in the past 3 years - from 93kg to 82kg.
Rates of pay
The average wage rate for hourly-paid employees is £13.48. Averaging out all benefits paid by the company for all hourly paid employees results in the following additional benefit per hour:
- cash bonus £0.38
- free shares £0.68
- pension £0.23
- staff discount £0.17
- staff meals £1.23
The cost of these benefits, which is in addition to the basic hourly rate, is £2.69 per hour, which totals approximately £117 million per annum.
The average hourly paid member of staff, based on a 40-hour week, earns £33,600 per annum, including these benefits. However, new starters and under 18’s for example, earn less than average.
For many years, Wetherspoon has operated a bonus and share scheme for all employees, as illustrated in the table below:
Financial year
Bonus and free shares
Profit/(loss)
after tax1
Bonus and free shares as % of profits
£m
£m
2008
16
36
45%
2009
21
45
45%
2010
23
51
44%
2011
23
52
43%
2012
24
57
42%
2013
29
65
44%
2014
29
59
50%
2015
31
57
53%
2016
33
57
58%
2017
44
77
57%
2018
43
84
51%
2019
46
80
58%
2020
33
(39)
-
2021
23
(146)
-
2022
30
(25)
-
2023
36
34
106%
2024
49
59
83%
2025
45
58
78%
2026
49
43
114%
Total2
541
914
59.2%
1From FY20, all profit numbers in the above table are on a post-IFRS-16 basis.
2 Excludes 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Wetherspoon has been recognised as one of Europe’s Best Employers 2026 and, for the 21st time, recognised as a Top Employer United Kingdom 2026.
Wetherspoon was also featured in the Financial Times ‘FT – Statista Leaders 2026’ report, which included Europe’s leading companies in diversity and inclusion.
In the 2025 ProShare Awards, Wetherspoon won ‘Best Overall Performance in Fostering Employee Share Ownership’ and in 2026 won ‘Most Innovative Plan Design’ for the share scheme at the Global Equity Organisation Awards.
The table below provides details of the improved retention levels of pub and kitchen managers, key areas for any pub company, in the last decade.
Financial year
Average pub manager length of service
Average kitchen manager length of service
(Years)
(Years)
2016
11
7.1
2017
11.1
8
2018
12
8.1
2019
12.2
8.1
2020
12.9
9.1
2021
13.6
9.6
2022
13.9
10.4
2023
14.3
10.6
2024
14.9
10.9
2025
15.4
11.5
2026
15.8
11.9
Pubwatch
As previously highlighted, Pubwatch is a forum which has improved wider town and city environments, by bringing together pubs, local authorities and the police, in a concerted way, to encourage good behaviour and to reduce antisocial activity.
Wetherspoon pubs are members of 647 schemes country wide.
The company also helps to fund National Pubwatch, founded in 1997 by licensees Bill Stone and Raoul De Vaux, along with police superintendent Malcolm Eidmans. This is the umbrella organisation which helps to set up, co-ordinate and support local schemes.
It is our experience that in some towns and cities, where the authorities have struggled to control antisocial behaviour, the setting up of a Pubwatch has been instrumental in improving safety and security – of not only licensed premises, but also the town and city in general, as well as assisting the police in bringing down crime.
For example, Beth Burns, pub manager of The Queens Hotel in Maltby, was awarded the Award of Merit at the National Pubwatch Conference 2024 for her commitment to the role as chair of Maltby Pubwatch Scheme and her efforts to reduce crime, improve community cohesion and her strategic collaboration with local Authorities to enhance community safety.
Conversely, we have found, in several towns, including some towns on the outskirts of London, that the absence of an effective Pubwatch scheme results in higher incidents of crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour.
In our view, Pubwatch is integral to making towns and cities a safe environment for everyone.
Best Bar None
Best Bar None is a UK Home Office-supported accreditation scheme that awards business which demonstrate high standards in customer safety, staff training and responsible venue management.
All Wetherspoon pubs in England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland are now Best Bar None accredited.
Hygiene and other ratings
All Wetherspoon pubs have been awarded 5 stars by Cask Marque, an organisation which assesses beer quality and cellar hygiene – in comparison, 66% of all UK pubs have been rated at 4 or 5 stars.
As indicated above, Wetherspoon participates in the Guinness ‘Quality Programme’, with all pubs achieving 100% rating. Guinness evaluates staff training, equipment cleanliness and presentation standards.
In the 2025 British Travel Awards, Wetherspoon was voted ‘Best Airport Retailer for Food & beverages’ and ‘Second-Best Rail Station & Beverage Outlet’.
Wetherspoon won bronze at Britain’s Most Admired Companies 2026, in the Restaurant and Pubs category. The judges assess the quality of products and services, amongst other criteria.
We now have 747 pubs, including franchises, rated on the Food Standards Agency’s website (see table below). The average score is 4.99, with 99.2% of the pubs achieving a top rating of five stars. We believe this to be the highest average rating for any substantial pub company.
In the separate Scottish scheme, which records either a ‘pass’ or a ‘fail’, all of our 54 pubs have passed.
Financial Year
Total pubs scored
Average rating
Pubs with highest rating %
2014
824
4.91
92.0
2015
858
4.93
94.1
2016
836
4.89
91.7
2017
818
4.89
91.8
2018
807
4.97
97.3
2019
799
4.97
97.4
2020
781
4.96
97.0
2021
787
4.97
98.4
2022
775
4.98
98.6
2023
753
4.99
99.2
2024
735
4.99
99.6
2025
740
4.99
98.8
2026
747
4.99
99.1
Property litigation
Some years ago, Wetherspoon took successful legal action for fraud against its own property advisors Van de Berg, who were found, by the court, to have diverted freehold properties to third parties, leaving Wetherspoon with an inferior leasehold interest.
Following the Van de Berg case, Wetherspoon instigated further legal actions against a number of individuals and companies who had freehold properties introduced to them by Van de Berg. Liability was denied by all. The cases were contested and settled out of court. Details can be found in appendix 4 below.
Press corrections
As previously reported, corrections and apologies have been published by the media for a number of press inaccuracies, especially during the first UK lockdown. As a result, in 2024, a special edition of Wetherspoon News was published called ‘Does Truth Matter?’. (https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Does-Truth-Matter_.pdf).
More recently, the Financial Times made the eccentric assertion that Wetherspoon “makes more money on gambling machines than … on drinks or food”. As we pointed out, fruit or “gambling” machines make up 3.6% of our sales and 4.3% of our gross profit, so this assertion cannot realistically be sustained.
The full Wetherspoon rebuttal to the FT article can be found in appendix 5.
World Health Organisation report
The company continues to be concerned about the possibility of further lockdowns and about the efficacy of the government enquiry into the pandemic, which will not be concluded for several years.
In contrast, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on its findings in 2022.
Professor Francois Balloux, director of the UCL Genetics Institute, writing in The Guardian, and Professor Robert Dingwall, of Trent University, writing in the Telegraph, provide useful synopses of the WHO report:
(see pages 54–56 of Wetherspoon News
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wetherspoon-News-autumn-2022.pdf)
The conclusion of Professor Balloux, broadly echoed by Professor Dingwall, based on an analysis by the World Health Organisation of the pandemic, is that Sweden (which did not lock down), had a Covid-19 fatality rate “of about half the UK’s” and that “the worst performer, by some margin, is Peru, despite enforcing the harshest, longest lockdown.”
Professor Balloux concludes that “the strength of mitigation measures does not seem to be a particularly strong indicator of excess deaths.”
Non-commodity costs
The company is concerned about the non-commodity electricity charge, which is around 60% of pub, other businesses’ and household electricity bills. Most people are unaware that 60% of their “electricity” bill is not for electricity, it is a levy or tax which subsidises a range of businesses and projects favoured by the government.
The upshot is that £15 to £20 billion per annum is paid by business and the public to the government through what is, effectively, a stealth tax - and there is very little scrutiny of how the money is subsequently allocated by the government.
The results of Wetherspoon’s own investigation were reported in Wetherspoon News recently (these can be found on pages 4-5 of Wetherspoon News
Wetherspoon News winter spring 2025-26)
Current trading and outlook
In the last nine weeks, to 27 September 2026, like-for-like sales increased by 8.6%, helped, no doubt, by exceptional weather.
The company has made substantial progress in recent years in increasing the number of beer gardens and outside seating areas.
This has resulted in sales improving in hot weather whereas, in the past, sales sometimes declined.
The latest ‘NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker’, for August 2026, said industry like-for-like sales were +0.8%. During this period, Wetherspoon like-for-like sales were +7.7%. This was the 48th month in a row that Wetherspoon has outperformed the tracker.
The hospitality industry, as many commentators and companies have noted, has borne the brunt of government-led tax and regulatory cost increases, especially in the last two budgets. This has resulted in pubs becoming even more expensive than supermarkets, leading to job losses, closures and high street dereliction.
It is to be hoped that the powers-that-be will refrain from any further increases, since pubs and restaurants pay around 40% of their receipts as taxes of one sort or another - and provide immense financial support to the Treasury, as well as social support to the community.
In addition, as Jacques Borel, Tom Kerridge and multifarious individuals and organisations have noted, including, indeed, the Prime Minister and other party leaders, VAT is the main culprit in the disparity with supermarkets - and the hospitality industry will not be able to survive or thrive unless taxes and other costs are equalised.
Wetherspoon has made a good start to the financial year, although it is at least partially due to weather, which will inevitably revert to the norm. At this early, we continue to anticipate profit before tax and separately disclosed items in line with current market expectations1.
Tim Martin
Chairman
1 October 2026
1Company compiled consensus for FY27 profit before tax and separately disclosed items is £74 million.
APPENDIX 1 Press release, Tim Martin, 9th February 2026
Wetherspoon calls on hospitality industry to back political support for tax reform
A few days ago, the leader of the political party which is leading in the latest polls, offered the hospitality industry something many had assumed impossible - in effect, tax parity with supermarkets.
There's no question that this initiative would utterly transform the competitiveness of pubs, which have lost 50% of their beer trade to supermarkets since the millennium, according to analysts at bankers Morgan Stanley.
In this plan, VAT would be reduced to 10% for the hospitality industry, with further reductions in excise duty and business rates to come.
Most pubs could probably, for example, offer one beer, one lager and one cider for, say £2.99, with these tax reductions - and STILL have a higher gross margin than today.
By eliminating the tax differential between supermarkets and the hospitality industry, and restoring margins to devastated businesses, these changes would enable pubs to regain some, or all, of their lost trade.
You would think that this offer from Reform would have been greeted by a crescendo of enthusiasm, ecstasy and support from the licensed trade and its supporters.
However, surprisingly, initial support has been underwhelming, at least from the great and the good in the hospitality industry.
For example, Mark Brumby of Langton Capital, a widely read pub trade publication, damned the proposals with bland reporting, by saying:
" A 10% cut could either see the price of a pint drop by 5p or operators widen their margins. Reform has also said it would halve the rate of VAT for the …hospitality sector ".
Try and control your excitement, Mr Brumby, we beg you..
And one of the main industry umbrella organisations, the BBPA (British Beer and Pub Association) said:
"We're pleased that political parties are recognising the value of the local and want to ensure their success…".
Not exactly a ringing endorsement of the best offer any politician has ever made to the hospitality industry in history, is it?
But, weirdly, we've been here before. A Frenchman, Jacques Borel, started a VAT Club in 2010, aimed at reducing VAT for food in the UK hospitality industry to 5%, having successfully achieved similar reductions in a substantial number of countries.
Bizarrely, the then CEOs of two of the biggest pub companies, Enterprise Inns and Greene King were openly hostile to Jacques' tax equality argument - others were indifferent or agnostic.
Even more bizarrely, the then editor of the biggest pub trade publication, the Morning Advertiser, withdrew support for the VAT campaign, since, he told me, Jacques was "having a bad game". Not as bad a game as you, mate, I thought.
Sometimes, you are at a loss to understand what appears to be perverse human behaviour. What could the motivations of the CEOs and the editor possibly have been?
Perplexed, Wetherspoon, at considerable cost, decided, at the time, to conduct a major survey of UK publicans, those on the frontline that the CEOs and editor purported to represent - especially the employees of the recalcitrant CEOs of Enterprise and Greene King.
Unsurprisingly, sanity prevailed in the lounge bars of UK pubs. Cardinal Research reported in 2013 that "96% of licensees think the pub and restaurant industry should campaign for a reduction of VAT on food".
Cardinal added that "94% support the campaign by the VAT Club" and that "86% agree that it's unfair that supermarkets pay no VAT on food but pubs/restaurants have to".
Needless to say, Greene King's and Enterprise Inns' s licensees strongly supported the VAT Club and disagreed with the views of their own CEOs.
But here we go again! So what goes through the minds of the directors of the biggest pub companies as they watch their trade switch, almost weekly, to supermarkets, due to the vast tax-supported price differential between the on and off-trade?
A range of thoughts, probably. I suspect, but don't know, that the CEOs in the Borel era were closet, or not-so-closet supporters of the government of the time - and didn't want to rock the boat. Chancellor George Osborne, not really a pub guy, was outright hostile to Jacques the Lad.
Some others mistakenly thought they weren't competing with supermarkets, so why bother. Yet others were short-termists: I'm off in a year or two, so I'm alright, Jacques .
But credit where it's due , the family brewers, long-termists and driven by principle, not politics , were on board. Well done to Fuller's, Shepherd Neame, St Austell and many others.
The principle in question is that the beleaguered hospitality industry needs to get behind whatever organisation or political party promises a fair and equitable tax regime.
So here's the question for the British public - and for the senior figures in the hospitality industry. Do you believe in tax equality with supermarkets?
If you don't, pubs may increasingly become a "special occasion" experience, as a result of high prices, rather than the melting pot for daily rendezvous between neighbours , workers and lovers of the glorious past.
If you do believe in tax equality, then you'd better support it, because the supermarket industry has nicked half your trade in recent years - and it will gobble up most of the rest in no time flat.
Finally, it's not your job to worry about how tax equality is funded. As someone once said, the tax system needs a "sensible rebalancing". And as a former Treasury official said to Jacques Borel and myself - don't tell us how to raise the money. It's not a lot in the scheme of things. Tell us what's wrong and we'll do the number crunching.
APPENDIX 2 Extract from Wetherspoon FY23 Annual Report, Chairman’s Statement
Business rates transmogrified to a sales tax
Business rates are supposed to be based on the value of the building, rather than the level of trade of the tenant. This should mean that the rateable value per square foot is approximately the same for comparable pubs in similar locations. However, as a result of the valuation approach adopted by the government “Assessor” in Scotland, Wetherspoon often pays far higher rates per square foot than its competitors.
This is highlighted (in the tables below) by assessments for the Omni Centre, a modern leisure complex in central Edinburgh, where Wetherspoon has been assessed at more than double the rate per square foot of the average of its competitors, and for The Centre in Livingston (West Lothian), a modern shopping centre, where a similar anomaly applies.
As a result of applying valuation practice from another era, which assumed that pubs charged approximately the same prices, the raison d’être of the rating system – that rates are based on property values, not the tenant’s trade – has been undermined.
Similar issues are evident in Galashiels, Arbroath, Anniesland – and, indeed, at most Wetherspoon pubs in Scotland. In effect, the application of the rating system in Scotland discriminates against businesses like Wetherspoon, which have lower prices, and encourages businesses to charge higher prices. As a result, consumers are likely to pay higher prices, which cannot be the intent of rating legislation.
Omni Centre, Edinburgh
The Centre, Livingston
Occupier Name
Rateable Value (RV)
Customer Area (ft²)
Rates per square foot
Occupier Name
Rateable Value (RV)
Customer Area (ft²)
Rates per square foot
Playfair (JDW)
£218,750
2,756
£79.37
The Newyearfield (JDW)
£165,750
4,090
£40.53
Unit 9 (vacant)
£48,900
1,053
£46.44
Paraffin Lamp
£52,200
2,077
£25.13
Unit 7 (vacant)
£81,800
2,283
£35.83
Wagamama
£67,600
2,096
£32.25
Frankie & Benny's
£119,500
2,731
£43.76
Nando’s
£80,700
2,196
£36.75
Nando's
£122,750
2,804
£43.78
Chiquito
£68,500
2,221
£30.84
Slug & Lettuce
£108,750
3,197
£34.02
Ask Italian
£69,600
2,254
£30.88
The Filling Station
£147,750
3,375
£43.78
Pizza Express
£68,100
2,325
£29.29
Tony Macaroni
£125,000
3,427
£36.48
Prezzo
£70,600
2,413
£29.26
Unit 6 (vacant)
£141,750
3,956
£35.83
Harvester
£98,600
3,171
£31.09
Cosmo
£200,000
7,395
£27.05
Pizza Hut
£111,000
3,796
£29.24
Average (exc JDW)
£121,800
3,358
£38.55
Hot Flame
£136,500
4,661
£29.29
Average (exc JDW)
£82,340
2,721
£30.40
In summary, as a result of the approach taken in Scotland, business rates for pubs are de facto a sales tax, rather than a property tax, as the above examples clearly demonstrate.
APPENDIX 3 Extract from Wetherspoon FY23 Annual Report, Chairman’s Statement
Corporate Governance
Wetherspoon has been a strong critic of the composition of the boards of UK-quoted companies.
As a result of the ‘nine-year rule’, limiting the tenure of NEDs and the presumption in favour of ‘independent’, part-time chairmen, boards are often composed of short-term directors, with very little representation from those who understand the company best - people who work for it full time, or have worked for it full time.
Wetherspoon’s review of the boards of major banks and pub companies, which teetered on the edge of failure in the 2008-10 recession, highlighted the short “tenure”, on average, of directors.
In contrast, Wetherspoon noted the relative success, during this fraught financial period, of pub companies Fuller’s and Young’s, the boards of which were dominated by experienced executives, or former executives.
As a result, Wetherspoon increased the level of experience on the Wetherspoon board by appointing four “worker directors”.
All four worker directors started on the ‘shop floor’ and eventually became successful pub managers. Three have been promoted to regional management roles. They have worked for the company for an average of 24 years.
Board composition cannot guarantee future success, but it makes sensible decisions, based on experience at the coalface of the business, more likely.
The UK Corporate Governance Code 2018 (the ‘Code’) is a vast improvement on previous codes, emphasising the importance of employees, customers and other stakeholders in commercial success. It also emphasises the importance of its comply-or-explain ethos, and the consequent need for shareholders to engage with companies in order to understand their explanations.
A major impediment to the effective implementation of comply or explain seems to be the undermanning of the corporate governance departments of major shareholders.
For example, Wetherspoon has met a compliance officer from one major institution who is responsible for around 400 companies - an impossible task.
As a result, it appears that compliance officers and governance advisors, in practice, often rely on a “tick-box” approach, which is, itself, in breach of the Code.
A further issue is that many major investors, in their own companies, for sensible reasons, do not observe the nine-year rule, and other rules, themselves. An approach of “do what I say, not what I do” is clearly unsustainable.
APPENDIX 4 Extract from Wetherspoon FY23 Annual report, Chairman’s Report
Property Litigation
In 2013, Wetherspoon agreed an out-of-court settlement of approximately £1.25 million with developer Anthony Lyons, formerly of property leisure agent Davis Coffer Lyons, relating to claims that Mr Lyons had been an accessory to frauds committed by Wetherspoon’s former retained agent Van de Berg and its directors Christian Braun, George Aldridge and Richard Harvey in respect of properties in Leytonstone (which currently trades as the Walnut Tree), Newbury (which was leased to Café Rouge) and Portsmouth (which currently trades as The Isambard Kingdom Brunel).
Of these three properties, only Portsmouth was pleaded by Wetherspoon in its 2008/9 case against Van de Berg. Mr Lyons denied the claim and the litigation was contested.
In the Van de Berg litigation, Mr Justice Peter Smith ruled that Van de Berg, but not Mr Lyons (who was not a party to the case), fraudulently diverted the freehold of Portsmouth from Wetherspoon to Moorstown Properties Limited, a company owned by Simon Conway, which leased the property to Wetherspoon.
As part of a series of cases, Wetherspoon also agreed out-of-court settlements with:
1) Paul Ferrari of London estate agent Ferrari Dewe & Co, in respect of properties referred to as the ‘Ferrari Five’ by Mr Justice Peter Smith in the Van de Berg case, and
2) Property investor Jason Harris, formerly of First London and now of First Urban Group who paid £400,000 to Wetherspoon to settle a claim in which it was alleged that Harris was an accessory to frauds committed by Van de Berg. Harris contested the claim and did not admit liability.
Messrs Ferrari and Harris both contested the claims and did not admit liability.
APPENDIX 5 Press release, Tim Martin, 27th July 2026
Wetherspoon clarifies the contribution of fruit machines, in response to an FT article
Bryce Elder, writing in the Financial Times ("How much does Wetherspoon make from its gambling machines?", 24 July, 2026) asks whether Wetherspoon "makes more money on gambling machines than … on drinks or food".
Mr Elder then caveats his analysis by saying, "In many ways, it's a stupid question."
As his article says, fruit (or "gambling") machines accounted for 3.4 per cent of Wetherspoon sales in 2025.
They also account for 3.6 per cent of "gross profit", before the allocation of costs such as rent, business rates, energy, labour and so on.
It can be easily calculated that Wetherspoon's other sources of revenue (bar, food and hotel rooms) accounted for the remaining 96.6 per cent of sales - and for 96.4 per cent of gross profit.
However, Mr Elder's article then concludes that "Spoons might be making more from gambling than food"- which, sorry to say, is wildly out of kilter.
In fact, food sales are 11.0 times higher than machine sales and food gross profit is 10.2 times higher.
So how did Mr Elder make this egregious error?
It appears that he has allocated all Wetherspoon's costs and overheads, other than fruit machine rentals, to bar, food and hotel rooms.
You don't need to be J.K. Galbraith, Milton Friedman, or even Rachel Reeves, to regard this as voodoo economics.
Without all the other costs of the business, and without the customers they attract, there could be no fruit machine income, so, logically, the machines have to bear their share of overheads.
Mr Elder certainly misled himself by calling Wetherspoon's fruit machines "casino-style".
In fact, as licensing lawyers will attest, the type of machines allowed in pubs are quite different to casinos, bingo halls, members' or miners' clubs.
Pub "stakes" are much lower, as indeed are the prizes which can be won by customers.
In addition, Mr Elder assumes that machines are a "useful source of growth ".
In fact, Wetherspoon's machine sales, reflecting the general experience of the pub industry, have decreased from about 7 per cent of sales at our 1992 stock market flotation, to 6 per cent in 2000, to 3.4 per cent today- even if there have been some years of growth during that period.
Even so, Mr Elder will have noted from Wetherspoon's accounts that the government received £18.2 million in machine gaming duty from Wetherspoon in our last financial year, so his hypothesis, that there is a possibility of "the profits (machines) generate being relegated to zero", would come at a high cost to the Treasury, with little evidence of public benefit.
Mr Elder's article also refers to Wetherspoon pubs as "grotty". Notwithstanding his oblique literary allusion, this is highly inaccurate.
Wetherspoon has, for example, better local authority "scores on the doors" hygiene ratings than any substantial pub company, with an average of 99.2 per cent of pubs scoring a maximum five out of five.
Wetherspoon also has more of its pubs recommended in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide than any other company, has 100 per cent accreditation from Guinness and, probably, has won more design awards than any company, ever, in UK history.
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said:
"I've been on the other side of the fence from the Financial Times on the two main financial debates of the last 30 years- whether the UK should join the euro and whether the UK should remain in the EU. At the risk of immodesty, I'm pleased to say that this fruit machine debate makes it three- nil to Timbo."
GROUP INCOME STATEMENT for the 52 weeks ended 26 July 2026
Notes
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
26 July
26 July
26 July
27 July
27 July
27 July
2026
2026
2026
2025
2025
2025
before
separately
after
before
separately
after
separately
disclosed
separately
separately
disclosed
separately
disclosed
items1
disclosed
disclosed
items1
disclosed
items
items
items
items
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Revenue
1
2,238,023
-
2,238,023
2,127,524
-
2,127,524
Operating costs
(2,117,829)
368
(2,117,461)
(1,981,115)
(4,249)
(1,985,364)
Operating profit/(loss)
120,194
368
120,562
146,409
(4,249)
142,160
Property gains/(losses)
3
310
(2,118)
(1,808)
(948)
2,736
1,788
Finance income
5
1,016
20,835
21,851
1,371
9,410
10,781
Finance costs
5
(62,911)
-
(62,911)
(65,387)
-
(65,387)
Profit before tax
58,609
19,085
77,694
81,445
7,897
89,342
Tax (charge)/income
6
(15,455)
(1,753)
(17,208)
(23,876)
2,525
(21,351)
Profit for the period
43,154
17,332
60,486
57,569
10,422
67,991
Profit per ordinary share (p)
- Basic
7
42.4
17.1
59.5
50.8
9.2
60.0
- Diluted
7
39.8
16.0
55.8
48.1
8.7
56.8
1 Separately disclosed items is a measure not required by accounting standards; a definition is provided in the accounting policies. After separately disclosed items is a GAAP measure.
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption permitted by s408 of the Companies Act 2006 from presenting its own income statement and statement of comprehensive income.
Group and Company cashflow, balance sheet and statement of changes in equity have been presented below.
GROUP STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME for the 52 weeks ended 26 July 2026
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Items which will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Interest-rate swaps: loss reclassification to the income statement
(7,818)
(12,700)
Currency translation differences
(721)
1,299
Net loss recognised directly in other comprehensive income
(8,539)
(11,401)
Profit for the period
60,486
67,991
Total comprehensive profit for the period
51,947
56,590
GROUP AND COMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the 52 weeks ended 26 July 2026
Free cash
Free cash
flow1
flow1
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
Note
ended
ended
ended
ended
26 July
26 July
27 July
27 July
2026
2026
2025
2025
£000
£000
£000
£000
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
8
284,290
284,290
254,440
254,440
Interest received
5
717
717
1,064
1,064
Interest paid
5
(48,243)
(48,243)
(29,819)
(29,819)
Corporation tax paid
(16,160)
(16,160)
(17,198)
(17,198)
Lease interest
(15,099)
(15,099)
(15,260)
(15,260)
Net cash flow from operating activities
205,505
205,505
193,226
193,226
Cash flows from investing activities
Reinvestment in pubs
(26,338)
(26,338)
(62,470)
(62,470)
Reinvestment in business and IT projects
(5,565)
(5,565)
(11,631)
(11,631)
Investment in new pubs and pub extensions
(28,734)
–
(24,141)
–
Freehold reversions and investment properties
(13,599)
–
(18,726)
–
Proceeds of sale of property, plant and equipment
10,067
–
8,129
–
Net cash flow from investing activities
(64,169)
(31,903)
(108,839)
(74,101)
Cash flows from financing activities
Equity dividends paid
10
(13,340)
–
(19,460)
–
Purchase of own shares for cancellation
(45,991)
–
(66,778)
–
Purchase of own shares for share-based payments
(28,463)
(28,463)
(22,762)
(22,762)
Loan issue cost
(1,282)
(1,282)
(1,414)
(1,414)
Advances of bank loans
3,000
–
45,000
–
Other loan receivables
794
–
783
–
Lease principal payments
(43,711)
(43,711)
(38,308)
(38,308)
Asset-financing principal payments
1,749
–
–
–
Net cash flow from financing activities
(127,244)
(73,456)
(102,939)
(62,484)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
14,092
(18,551)
Opening cash and cash equivalents
38,682
57,233
Closing cash and cash equivalents
52,774
38,682
Free cash flow1
100,146
56,642
1Free cash flow is a measure not required by accounting standards; a definition is provided within accounting policies.
GROUP BALANCE SHEET as at 26 July 2026
Restated1
J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 01709784
Notes
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
12
1,384,157
1,404,765
Intangible assets
11
9,861
7,876
Investment property
13
29,844
22,549
Right-of-use assets
361,695
363,562
Other loan receivable
–
325
Derivative financial instruments
5,057
–
Lease assets
7,173
8,799
Non-current receivables
2,412
–
Total non-current assets
1,800,199
1,807,876
Current assets
Lease assets
1,512
1,667
Assets held for sale
–
2,137
Inventories
32,742
31,058
Receivables
25,076
26,520
Current income tax receivables
3,301
–
Cash and cash equivalents
52,774
38,682
Total current assets
115,405
100,064
Total assets
1,915,604
1,907,940
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Borrowings
(115,047)
(18,619)
Trade and other payables
(325,487)
(289,204)
Current tax liabilities
–
(39)
Provisions
(2,073)
(1,503)
Lease liabilities
(57,005)
(52,042)
Total current liabilities
(499,612)
(361,407)
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
(670,435)
(764,102)
Derivative financial instruments
(103)
(8,063)
Deferred tax liabilities
6
(61,994)
(57,211)
Lease liabilities
(346,632)
(355,161)
Total non-current liabilities
(1,079,164)
(1,184,537)
Total liabilities
(1,578,776)
(1,545,944)
Net assets
336,828
361,996
Shareholders’ equity
Share capital
2,122
2,260
Share premium account
143,170
143,170
Capital redemption reserve
2,790
2,652
Other reserves1
49,505
108,836
Hedging reserve1
3,898
11,716
Currency translation reserve
1,557
3,819
Retained earnings1
133,786
89,543
Total shareholders’ equity
336,828
361,996
1Restated, 27 July 2025.
GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Restated1
Restated1 Restated1
Notes
Capital
Currency
---Distributable reserves---
Share
Share premium
redemption
Hedging
translation
Other
Retained
Total
capital
account
reserve
reserve
reserve
Reserves
earnings
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
As at 28 July 2024
2,472
143,170
2,440
13,794
106
195,074
44,571
401,627
Effect of restatement1
-
-
-
10,622
-
-
(10,622)
-
Restated as at 28 July 2024
2,472
143,170
2,440
24,416
106
195,074
33,949
401,627
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
(12,700)
3,713
-
65,577
56,590
Profit for the period
-
-
-
-
-
-
67,991
67,991
Interest-rate swaps: amount reclassified to the income statement
-
-
-
(12,700)
-
-
-
(12,700)
Currency translation differences
8
-
-
-
-
3,713
-
(2,414)
1,299
Purchase of own shares and cancellation
(212)
-
212
-
-
(66,778)
-
(66,778)
Share-based payment charges
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,466
12,466
Tax on share-based payment
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
313
313
Purchase of own shares for share-based payments
-
-
-
-
-
-
(22,762)
(22,762)
Dividends
10
-
-
-
-
-
-
(19,460)
(19,460)
As at 27 July 2025
2,260
143,170
2,652
11,716
3,819
128,296
70,083
361,996
Effect of restatement1
-
-
-
-
-
(19,460)
19,460
-
Restated as at 27 July 2025
2,260
143,170
2,652
11,716
3,819
108,836
89,543
361,996
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
(7,818)
(2,262)
-
62,027
51,947
Profit for the period
-
-
-
-
-
-
60,486
60,486
Interest-rate swaps: amount reclassified to the income statement
-
-
-
(7,818)
-
-
-
(7,818)
Currency translation differences
8
-
-
-
-
(2,262)
-
1,541
(721)
Purchase of own shares and cancellation
(138)
-
138
-
-
(45,991)
-
(45,991)
Share-based payment charges
-
-
-
-
-
-
11,074
11,074
Tax on share-based payment
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
(395)
(395)
Purchase of own shares for share-based payments
-
-
-
-
-
-
(28,463)
(28,463)
Dividends
10
-
-
-
-
-
(13,340)
-
(13,340)
As at 26 July 2026
2,122
143,170
2,790
3,898
1,557
49,505
133,786
336,828
1Restated, 28 July 2024 and 27 July 2025.
The share premium account represents those proceeds received in excess of the nominal value of new shares issued.
The capital redemption reserve represents the nominal amount of share capital repurchased and cancelled in previous periods.
Other reserves contain net proceeds received for share placements which took place in previous periods.
The hedge reserve represents the fair value of cancelled swaps.
The currency translation reserve contains the accumulated currency gains and losses on the long-term financing and balance sheet translation of the overseas branch. The currency translation difference reported in retained earnings is the retranslation of the opening reserves in the overseas branch from local currency to sterling.
Share-based payments above represent net of employee’s tax withholding at settlement.
COMPANY BALANCE SHEET as at 26 July 2026
Restated1
J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 01709784
Notes
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
12
1,384,157
1,404,765
Intangible assets
11
9,861
7,876
Investment property
13
29,844
22,549
Right-of-use assets
361,695
363,562
Other loan receivable
–
325
Derivative financial instruments
5,057
–
Investments in subsidiaries
–
–
Lease assets
7,173
8,799
Non-current receivables
2,412
–
Total non-current assets
1,800,199
1,807,876
Current assets
Lease assets
1,512
1,667
Assets held for sale
–
2,137
Inventories
32,742
31,058
Receivables
25,057
26,520
Current income tax receivables
3,301
–
Cash and cash equivalents
52,774
38,682
Total current assets
115,386
100,064
Total assets
1,915,585
1,907,940
Current liabilities
Borrowings
(115,047)
(18,619)
Trade and other payables
(325,405)
(289,204)
Current tax liabilities
–
(39)
Provisions
(2,073)
(1,503)
Lease liabilities
(57,005)
(52,042)
Total current liabilities
(499,530)
(361,407)
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
(670,435)
(764,102)
Derivative financial instruments
(103)
(8,063)
Deferred tax liabilities
6
(61,994)
(57,211)
Lease liabilities
(346,632)
(355,161)
Total non-current liabilities
(1,079,164)
(1,184,537)
Total liabilities
(1,578,694)
(1,545,944)
Net assets
336,891
361,996
Shareholders’ equity
Share capital
2,122
2,260
Share premium account
143,170
143,170
Capital redemption reserve
2,790
2,652
Other reserves1
49,505
108,836
Hedging reserve1
3,898
11,716
Currency translation reserve
1,557
3,819
Retained earnings1
133,849
89,543
Total shareholders’ equity
336,891
361,996
1Restated, 27 July 2025.
The Company’s profit for the period was £60.5m.
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Restated1
Restated1 Restated1
Notes
Capital
Currency
---Distributable reserves---
Share
Share premium
redemption
Hedging
translation
Other
Retained
Total
capital
account
reserve
reserve
reserve
Reserves
earnings
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
As at 28 July 2024
2,472
143,170
2,440
13,794
106
195,074
44,571
401,627
Effect of restatement1
-
-
-
10,622
-
-
(10,622)
-
Restated as at 28 July 2024
2,472
143,170
2,440
24,416
106
195,074
33,949
401,627
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
(12,700)
3,713
-
65,577
56,590
Profit for the period
-
-
-
-
-
-
67,991
67,991
Interest-rate swaps: amount reclassified to the income statement
-
-
-
(12,700)
-
-
-
(12,700)
Currency translation differences
8
-
-
-
-
3,713
-
(2,414)
1,299
Purchase of own shares and cancellation
(212)
-
212
-
-
(66,778)
-
(66,778)
Share-based payment charges
-
-
-
-
-
-
12,466
12,466
Tax on share-based payment
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
313
313
Purchase of own shares for share-based payments
-
-
-
-
-
-
(22,762)
(22,762)
Dividends
10
-
-
-
-
-
-
(19,460)
(19,460)
As at 27 July 2025
2,260
143,170
2,652
11,716
3,819
128,296
70,083
361,996
Effect of restatement1
-
-
-
-
-
(19,460)
19,460
-
Restated as at 27 July 2025
2,260
143,170
2,652
11,716
3,819
108,836
89,543
361,996
Total comprehensive income
-
-
-
(7,818)
(2,262)
-
62,090
52,010
Profit for the period
-
-
-
-
-
-
60,549
60,549
Interest-rate swaps: amount reclassified to the income statement
-
-
-
(7,818)
-
-
-
(7,818)
Currency translation differences
8
-
-
-
-
(2,262)
-
1,541
(721)
Purchase of own shares and cancellation
(138)
-
138
-
-
(45,991)
-
(45,991)
Share-based payment charges
-
-
-
-
-
-
11,074
11,074
Tax on share-based payment
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
(395)
(395)
Purchase of own shares for share-based payments
-
-
-
-
-
-
(28,463)
(28,463)
Dividends
10
-
-
-
-
-
(13,340)
-
(13,340)
As at 26 July 2026
2,122
143,170
2,790
3,898
1,557
49,505
133,849
336,891
1Restated 28 July 2024 and 27 July 2025.
Refer to Group Statement of Changes in Equity for further information.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- Revenue
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Bar
1,300,997
1,218,543
Food
821,650
807,868
Slot/fruit machines
78,904
73,211
Hotel
22,924
22,390
Other
13,548
5,512
2,238,023
2,127,524
- Operating profit
1Restated
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Revenue
2,238,023
2,127,524
Cost of sales
(2,058,808)
(1,927,237)
Gross profit
179,215
200,287
Administration costs
(58,653)
(58,127)
Operating profit/(loss) after Separately Disclosed items
120,562
142,160
This is stated after charging/(crediting)
Repairs and maintenance
131,959
99,769
Variable concession rental payments
16,941
17,579
Short-term leases
357
446
Net rent receivable
(2,871)
(2,746)
Share-based payments (note 4)1
15,416
16,369
Depreciation & amortisation
119,595
114,365
1Restated, FY25 share-based payments no longer represent as net of employee’s tax withholding at settlement.
Included in cost of sales is £725.8 million (2025: £690.8 million) relating to the cost of inventory recognised as an expense.
Auditor's Remuneration
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Fees payable for the audit of the Group and Company financial statements
- Audit fees
650
632
- Additional audit work
10
25
Fees payable for other services
- Interim audit fees
81
76
Total auditor's fee
741
733
- Property gains and losses and separately disclosed items
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
26 July
26 July
26 July
27 July
27 July
27 July
2026
2026
2026
2025
2025
2025
Before
separately
After
Before
separately
After
separately
disclosed
separately
separately
disclosed
separately
disclosed
items
disclosed
disclosed
items
disclosed
items
items
items
items
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Operating items
Depreciation
–
506
506
–
(968)
(968)
Other
–
(138)
(138)
–
(3,281)
(3,281)
Total operating profit/(loss)
–
368
368
–
(4,249)
(4,249)
Property gains & losses
Fixed assets
1
(2,473)
(2,472)
(948)
(1,049)
(1,997)
Leases
309
943
1,252
–
162
162
Additional costs of disposal
–
(895)
(895)
–
(1,316)
(1,316)
Other property gains
–
–
–
–
–
–
310
(2,425)
(2,115)
(948)
(2,203)
(3,151)
Impairments
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
–
(7,669)
(7,669)
–
(4,954)
(4,954)
Reversal of property, plant and equipment impairment
–
9,296
9,296
–
7,806
7,806
Reversal of investment properties impairment
–
–
–
–
786
786
Impairment of right of use assets
–
(1,320)
(1,320)
–
(415)
(415)
Reversal of right of use asset Impairments
–
–
–
–
1,716
1,716
–
307
307
–
4,939
4,939
Total property gains and (losses)
310
(2,118)
(1,808)
(948)
2,736
1,788
Other items
Finance income
–
20,835
20,835
–
9,410
9,410
–
20,835
20,835
–
9,410
9,410
Taxation
Tax effect on separately disclosed items
–
(1,753)
(1,753)
–
2,525
2,525
–
(1,753)
(1,753)
–
2,525
2,525
Total items
310
17,332
17,642
(948)
10,422
9,474
Operating items
Other operating income and costs
Included within other operating income and costs in the period is an adjustment of £506,000 for previously overcharged depreciation on fixed assets (2025: £968,000 undercharged).
Costs of £138,000 (2025: cost of £1,640,000) have been recognised relating to property disposals the company deems to be outside the usual course of business and therefore classified as separately disclosed items.
In the prior period, further costs of £1,641,000 were recognised in relation to:
- £799,000 of employee settlement agreements
- £282,000 of aged utility supplier debt
- £216,000 relating to a contractual dispute with a large supplier, which was resolved in the prior period
- £205,000 relating to a court case with HMRC which was resolved in the prior period
- £139,000 due to a historic VAT correction
Property losses
Costs and income relating to sites sold or surrendered during the year.
Impairments
Property impairment relates to pubs deemed unlikely to generate sufficient cash flows in the future to support their carrying value. In the period, a total impairment charge of £7,669,000 (2025: £4,954,000) was incurred in respect of property, plant and equipment and £1,320,000 (2025: £415,000) in respect of right-of-use assets, as required under IAS 36. There were impairment reversals of £9,296,000 recognised in the period (2025: £10,308,000), reflecting improved performance in previously impaired pubs.
Finance costs and income
An income of £13,017,000 (2025: charge of £3,290,000) relates to the fair value movement on interest-rate swaps and income of £7,818,000 (2025: income of £12,700,000) relates to the amortisation of the hedge reserve to the P&L relating to discontinued hedges.
Taxation
The tax effect on separately disclosed items is a charge of £1,753,000 (2025 income of: £2,525,000).
1Restated
Group & Company
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Wages and salaries
787,013
756,677
Social security costs
74,879
55,578
Other pension costs
14,588
13,323
Share-based payments1
15,416
16,369
891,896
841,947
Directors’ remuneration
2026
2025
Group & Company
£000
£000
Wages
1,909
1,856
Share-based payments
434
398
Other pension costs
194
189
2,537
2,443
1Restated, previously stated excluding the employees tax liability, which is a cost of the share-based payment scheme.
2026
2025
Group & Company
Number
Number
Full-time equivalents
Head office
385
392
Pub managerial
4,720
4,676
Pub hourly paid staff
19,095
19,261
24,200
24,329
2026
2025
Number
Number
Total employees
Head office
396
400
Pub managerial
4,839
4,844
Pub hourly paid staff
37,174
36,837
42,409
42,081
The totals above relate to the monthly average number of employees during the year, not the total of employees at the end of the year.
Share - based payments
Group & Company
Number of Shares
Outstanding at 27 July 2025
9,805,383
Granted during the year
4,709,902
Forfeited & Expired during the period
(1,412,908)
Exercised during the year
(2,785,267)
Outstanding at 26 July 2026
10,317,110
- Employee benefits expenses (continued)
The company operates share-based compensation plans. The shares awarded as part of these schemes are based on the cash value at the date of the awards. The fair value of the shares granted is determined by reference to the share price at the date of the award. The weighted average fair value of shares granted during the year is £6.77.
The shares vest at a nil exercise price – and there are no market-based conditions to the shares which affect their ability to vest. The weighted average fair value of shares vested during the year is £6.01. This is determined by reference to the market price at the time of vesting.
The awards vest over three years, with the cost spread over this period. The weighted average remaining life of the unvested awards is 1.6 years.
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Finance costs
Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts
41,122
45,108
Interest payable on swaps
2,064
377
Interest payable on asset-financing
5
–
Interest payable on private placement
2,953
2,953
46,144
48,438
Amortisation of bank loan issue costs (note 9)
1,369
1,382
Finance costs excluding lease interest
47,513
49,820
Interest payable on leases
15,398
15,567
Total finance costs
62,911
65,387
Bank interest receivable
(717)
(1,064)
Lease interest receivable
(299)
(307)
Total finance income
(1,016)
(1,371)
Net finance costs before separately disclosed items
61,895
64,016
Separately disclosed income (note 3)
(20,835)
(9,410)
(20,835)
(9,410)
Net finance costs after separately disclosed items
41,060
54,606
- Taxation
- Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
The company’s profits for the accounting period are taxed at a rate of 25%, which is the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK.
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
26 July 2026
26 July 2026
26 July 2026
27 July 2025
27 July 2025
27 July 2025
Before
separately
After
Before
separately
After
separately
disclosed
separately
separately
disclosed
separately
disclosed
items
disclosed
disclosed
items
disclosed
items
(note 3)
items
items
(note 3)
Items
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Taken through income statement
Current tax:
Current tax charge
15,751
(332)
15,419
11,823
11,355
23,178
Previous period adjustment
-
(2,465)
(2,465)
-
216
216
Total current tax
15,751
(2,797)
12,954
11,823
11,571
23,394
Deferred tax:
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
(296)
3,254
2,958
12,053
(12,578)
(525)
Previous period deferred tax credit
–
1,296
1,296
-
(1,518)
(1,518)
Total deferred tax
(296)
4,550
4,254
12,053
(14,096)
(2,043)
Tax charge
15,455
1,753
17,208
23,876
(2,525)
21,351
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
ended
ended
ended
Ended
26 July 2026
26 July 2026
26 July 2026
27 July 2025
27 July 2025
27 July 2025
Before
separately
After
Before
separately
After
separately
disclosed
separately
separately
disclosed
separately
disclosed
items
disclosed
disclosed
items
disclosed
items
(note 3)
items
items
(note 3)
items
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Taken through equity
Current tax
(133)
–
(133)
(79)
–
(79)
Deferred tax
528
–
528
(234)
–
(234)
Tax credit
395
–
395
(313)
–
(313)
On 20 June 2023, the UK substantively enacted Pillar Two Model Rules, effective as from 1 January 2024. The Pillar Two rules are designed to ensure that large multinational enterprises (meeting certain conditions) pay a minimum level of tax on the income arising in each jurisdiction where they operate.
For the 52 weeks ended 26 July 2026 the Pillar Two income tax liability has been calculated as nil. The rules are not expected to have a material impact on the company’s tax rate or tax payments in the current or future periods
The company applies the exception to recognising and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar Two taxes, as provided in the amendments to IAS 12 issued in May 2023.
- Taxation (continued)
- Reconciliation of the total tax charge
The taxation charge pre-separately disclosed items, for the 52 weeks ended 26 July 2026, is based on the profit before tax of £58.6 million and the estimated effective tax rate for the 52 weeks ended 26 July 2026 of 26.4% (July 2025: 29.3%). This comprises of a current tax rate of 26.9% (July 2025: 14.5%) and a deferred tax credit of 0.5% (July 2025: 14.8% charge).
The current tax rate is higher than the UK standard weighted average tax rate owing to non-qualifying depreciation.
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
ended
ended
26 July 2026
26 July 2026
27 July 2025
27 July 2025
Before
After
Before
After
separately
separately
separately
separately
disclosed
disclosed
disclosed
disclosed
items
items
items
items
£000
£000
£000
£000
Profit before tax
58,609
77,694
81,445
89,342
Profit multiplied by the UK standard rate of
14,652
19,424
20,361
22,336
corporation tax of 25%
Abortive acquisition costs and disposals
411
411
355
355
Expenditure not allowable
205
429
188
472
Fair value movement on SWAP disregarded for tax
–
(1,954)
–
(3,175)
Other allowable deductions
–
–
–
–
Non-qualifying depreciation and loss on disposal
2,478
1,825
4,659
3,368
Capital gains – effect of deferred tax not recognised/(effect of relief)
–
533
1
473
Share options and SIPs
(2,563)
(2,563)
(1,832)
(1,832)
Deferred tax on balance-sheet-only items
(94)
(94)
(58)
(58)
Effect of different tax rates and unrecognised losses in overseas companies
366
366
202
715
Previous year adjustment – current tax
–
(2,465)
–
216
Previous year adjustment – deferred tax
–
1,296
–
(1,519)
Total tax expense reported in the income statement
15,455
17,208
23,876
21,351
- Taxation (continued)
- Deferred tax
Deferred tax balances have been recognised at the rate they are expected to reverse. The deferred tax in the balance sheet is as follows:
Deferred tax liabilities
Accelerated tax depreciation
Other temporary differences
Interest-rate swap
Total
£000
£000
£000
£000
At 27 July 2025
61,918
6,314
–
68,232
Previous year movement posted to the income statement
1,296
–
–
1,296
Movement during year posted to the income statement
(473)
706
3,254
3,487
Reclassification
–
–
(2,016)
(2,016)
At 26 July 2026
62,741
7,020
1,238
70,999
Deferred tax assets
Share-based payments
Tax losses and interest capacity carried forward
Other temporary differences
Total
£000
£000
£000
At 27 July 2025
2,531
1
8,489
11,021
Movement during year posted to the income statement
(202)
(1)
731
528
Movement during year posted to equity
(528)
–
–
(528)
Reclassification
–
–
(2,016)
(2,016)
At 26 July 2026
1,801
–
7,204
9,005
The company has recognised deferred tax assets of £9.0 million (2025: £11.0 million), which are expected to be offset against future profits. Included within this figure are other temporary differences of £7.2 million (2025: £6.5 million) relating to capital losses capable of offset against rolled over gains.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset as follows:
2026
2025
£000
£000
Deferred tax liabilities
70,999
68,232
Offset against deferred tax assets
(9,005)
(11,021)
Deferred tax liabilities
61,994
57,211
Deferred tax assets
9,005
11,021
Offset against deferred tax liabilities
(9,005)
(11,021)
Deferred tax asset
–
–
As at 26 July 2026, the company had a potential deferred tax asset of £11.5 million (2025: £12.2 million) relating to gross capital losses in the UK of £46 million (2025: £48.8 million). At 26 July 2026 a deferred tax asset of £7.2 million (2025: £6.5 million) has been recognised as there is sufficient certainty that the asset will be utilised in the future, with the balance of £4.3 million (2025: £5.7 million) not recognised due to insufficient certainty of future reversal. The losses do not expire and will be available for use in future periods indefinitely.
As at 26 July 2026, the company had a potential deferred tax asset of £6.0 million (2025: £6.7 million) relating to trading and capital tax losses in the Ireland of £48.1 million (2025: £53.8 million). At 26 July 2026 no deferred tax asset has been recognised as there is insufficient certainty of recovery. The losses do not expire and will be available for use in future periods indefinitely.
- Earnings and free cash flow per share
Weighted average number of shares
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit after tax for the period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the financial year of 110,255,056 (2025: 120,183,464) less the weighted average number of shares held in trust during the financial year of 8,677,175 (2025: 6,898,529). Shares held in trust are shares purchased by the company to satisfy employee share schemes which have not yet vested.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit/(loss) after tax for the period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the financial year adjusted for both shares held in trust and the effects of potentially dilutive shares. Potentially dilutive shares are share awards granted to employees, not yet vested, whose share price at grant date is below that of the average market price.
Weighted average number of shares
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
Shares in issue
110,255,056
120,183,464
Shares held in trust
(8,677,175)
(6,898,529)
Shares in issue - Basic
101,577,881
113,284,935
Dilutive shares
6,754,257
6,489,689
Shares in issue - Diluted
108,332,138
119,774,624
Earnings per share
52 weeks ended 26 July 2026
Profit/(loss)
Basic EPS
Diluted EPS
£000
pence
pence
Earnings (profit after tax)
60,486
59.5
55.8
Exclude effect of separately disclosed items after tax
(17,332)
(17.1)
(16.0)
Earnings before separately disclosed items
43,154
42.4
39.8
Exclude effect of property (losses)
(310)
(0.3)
(0.3)
Underlying earnings before separately disclosed items
42,844
42.2
39.5
52 weeks ended 27 July 2025
Profit/(loss)
Basic EPS
Diluted EPS
£000
pence
pence
Earnings (profit after tax)
67,991
60.0
56.8
Exclude effect of exceptional items after tax
(10,422)
(9.2)
(8.7)
Earnings before separately disclosed items
57,569
50.8
48.1
Exclude effect of property gains
948
0.8
0.8
Underlying earnings before separately disclosed
58,517
51.6
48.9
Free cash flow per share
Free cash
Basic free
Diluted free
flow
cash flow
cash flow
per share
per share
£000
pence
pence
52 weeks ended 26 July 2026
100,146
98.6
92.4
52 weeks ended 27 July 2025
56,642
50.1
47.3
- Cash used in/generated from operations
Group
Group
Company
Company
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
2026
2025
£000
£000
£000
£000
Profit for the period
60,486
67,991
60,549
67,991
Adjusted for:
Tax (note 6)
17,208
21,351
17,208
21,351
Share-based charges
11,074
12,466
11,074
12,466
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (note 3)
3,367
3,313
3,367
3,313
Disposal of capitalised leases & Lease premiums (note 3)
(1,252)
(162)
(1,252)
(162)
Net impairment charge (note 3)
(307)
(4,939)
(307)
(4,939)
Interest receivable (note 5)
(717)
(1,064)
(717)
(1,064)
Interest payable (note 5)
46,144
48,438
46,144
48,438
Lease interest receivable (note 5)
(299)
(307)
(299)
(307)
Lease interest payable (note 5)
15,398
15,567
15,398
15,567
Separately disclosed Interest (note 5)
(20,835)
(9,410)
(20,835)
(9,410)
Amortisation of bank loan issue costs (note 5)
1,369
1,382
1,369
1,382
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 12)
72,862
72,205
72,862
72,205
Amortisation of intangible assets (note 11)
2,678
2,003
2,678
2,003
Depreciation on investment properties (note 13)
244
218
244
218
Aborted properties costs
304
140
304
140
Foreign exchange movements
(721)
1,299
(721)
1,299
Amortisation of right-of-use assets
43,811
39,939
43,811
39,939
250,814
270,430
250,877
270,430
Change in inventories
(1,684)
(2,654)
(1,684)
(2,654)
Change in receivables
(1,437)
56
(1,419)
56
Change in payables
36,597
(13,392)
36,516
(13,392)
Cash generated from operations
284,290
254,440
284,290
254,440
- Analysis of change in net debt
1Restated
1Restated
28 July
Cash
Non
27 July
Cash
Non
26 July
2024
Flows1
Cash1
2025
flows
cash
2026
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Borrowings
Bank loans
–
–
–
–
–
(97,947)
(97,947)
Cash and cash equivalents
57,233
(18,551)
–
38,682
14,092
–
52,774
Other loan receivable
716
87
–
803
(469)
–
334
Asset-financing obligations
–
–
–
–
(557)
–
(557)
Current net borrowings
57,949
(18,464)
–
39,485
13,066
(97,947)
(45,396)
Bank loans
(621,229)
(43,586)
(1,336)
(666,151)
(1,768)
(1,324)
(669,243)
Other loan receivable
1,194
(870)
1
325
(325)
–
–
Private placement
(97,905)
–
(46)
(97,951)
50
97,901
–
Asset-financing obligations
–
–
–
–
(1,192)
–
(1,192)
Non-current net borrowings
(717,940)
(44,456)
(1,381)
(763,777)
(3,235)
96,577
(670,435)
Net debt
(659,991)
(62,920)
(1,381)
(724,292)
9,831
(1,370)
(715,831)
Derivatives
NC Interest-rate swaps asset
–
–
–
–
–
5,057
5,057
Current Interest rate swaps liability
(701)
–
701
–
–
–
–
NC Interest-rate swaps liability
(4,073)
–
(3,990)
(8,063)
–
7,960
(103)
Total derivatives
(4,774)
–
(3,289)
(8,063)
–
13,017
4,954
Net debt after derivatives
(664,765)
(62,920)
(4,670)
(732,355)
9,831
11,647
(710,877)
Leases
Current Lease assets1
1,358
(1,370)
1,679
1,667
(1,385)
1,230
1,512
Non- current Lease assets
8,860
–
(61)
8,799
–
(1,626)
7,173
Current Lease obligations1
(49,582)
54,938
(57,398)
(52,042)
60,195
(65,158)
(57,005)
Non-current Lease obligations
(368,660)
–
13,499
(355,161)
–
8,529
(346,632)
Net lease liabilities
(408,024)
53,568
(42,281)
(396,737)
58,810
(57,025)
(394,952)
Net debt after derivatives and lease liabilities
(1,072,790)
(9,352)
(46,951)
(1,129,093)
68,641
(45,378)
(1,105,829)
1Restated, lease asset interest receivable and lease liability interest payable has been moved from Cash Flows and into Non-Cash movement for FY25.
Lease obligations represent long-term payables, while lease assets represent long-term receivables – both are, therefore, disclosed in the table above.
The non-cash movement in bank loans relates to the amortisation of loan issue costs. The amortisation charge for the year of £1,369,000 (2025: £1,382,000) is disclosed in note 5.
Net current borrowings does not include the interest accrued of £46.1m (2025: £48.4m) and interest paid of £48.2m (2025: £29.8m).
The movement in interest-rate swaps relates to the change in the ‘mark to market’ valuations for the year for swaps.
Non-cash movement in net lease liabilities
26 July
27 July
Group & Company
2026
2025
£000
£000
Recognition of new leases
(22,783)
(22,016)
Recognition of new lease assets
–
1,399
Remeasurements of existing leases liabilities
(24,638)
(16,123)
Remeasurements of existing leases assets
31
(88)
Disposals and derecognised leases
4,724
–
Disposals and derecognised leases assets
(726)
–
Lease transfers to property, plant and equipment
1,556
9,732
Exchange differences
(90)
75
Interest received & interest expensed within the period
(15,099)
(15,260)
Non-cash movement in net lease liabilities
(57,025)
(42,281)
10. Dividends paid and proposed
The board proposes, subject to shareholders’ consent, to pay a final dividend of 8.0p (2025: 8.0p) per share, to be paid on 26 November to shareholders who are on the register of members at close of business on 23 October 2026 (the Record Date).
Group & Company
52 weeks
52 weeks
ended
ended
26 July
27 July
2026
2025
£000
£000
Dividends on ordinary shares declared and paid during the year:
Final for 2025 – 8.0p
9,024
Final for 2024 – 12.0p
–
14,807
Interim for 2026 - 4.0p
4,316
–
Interim for 2025 – 4.0p
–
4,653
13,340
19,460
Proposed for approval by shareholders at the AGM:
Final for 2026 - 8.0p
8,487
–
Final for 2025 – 8.0p
–
9,043
8,487
9,043
Dividend per share (p)
12.0
12.0
Dividend cover
3.3
4.0
Dividend cover is calculated as diluted EPS before separately disclosed items over dividend per share.
- Intangible assets
Group & Company
Computer software
Assets under
and development
construction
Total
£000
£000
£000
Cost
At 28 July 2024
38,870
100
38,970
Additions
2,957
989
3,946
Transfers
100
(100)
–
At 27 July 2025
41,927
989
42,916
Additions
3,555
1,108
4,663
Transfers
721
(721)
–
At 26 July 2026
46,203
1,376
47,579
Accumulated amortisation
At 28 July 2024
(33,037)
–
(33,037)
Provided during the period
(2,003)
–
(2,003)
At 27 July 2025
(35,040)
–
(35,040)
Provided during the period
(2,678)
–
(2,678)
At 26 July 2026
(37,718)
–
(37,718)
Net book amount at 26 July 2026
8,485
1,376
9,861
Net book amount at 27 July 2025
6,887
989
7,876
Net book amount at 28 July 2024
5,833
100
5,933
Examples of computer software and development include the development costs of the Wetherspoon customer-facing app and other bespoke company applications.
- Property, plant and equipment
Freehold and Long Leasehold Property
£000Short Leasehold Property
£000Equipment Fixtures and Fittings
£000Assets Under Construction
£000Total
£000Cost
As at 28 July 2024
1,507,704
258,560
815,134
57,555
2,638,953
Effect of restatement1
(30,228)
15,017
(2,904)
(1,199)
(19,314)
Restated at 28 July 2024
1,477,476
273,577
812,230
56,356
2,619,639
Additions
38,821
6,377
57,708
10,186
113,092
Transfers from capitalised leases
(418)
–
–
–
(418)
Transfers from held for sale
300
–
–
–
300
Transfer to investment property
(5,842)
–
–
–
(5,842)
Transfers
16,774
2,234
11,258
(30,266)
–
Exchange differences
1,900
92
314
5
2,311
Disposals
(11,983)
(2,307)
(4,044)
–
(18,334)
Reclassifications
8,935
(8,935)
–
–
–
Restated at 27 July 20251
1,525,963
271,038
877,466
36,281
2,710,748
Additions
15,781
5,802
32,421
8,376
62,380
Transfers from capitalised leases
(218)
–
–
–
(218)
Transfers
10,218
802
3,388
(14,408)
–
Exchange differences
(1,205)
(63)
(202)
(5)
(1,475)
Disposals
(7,985)
(3,935)
(2,595)
(2,645)
(17,160)
Reclassifications
3,451
(3,451)
–
–
–
At 26 July 2026
1,546,005
270,193
910,478
27,599
2,754,275
Accumulated depreciation and impairment
As at 28 July 2024
(441,927)
(166,474)
(653,993)
(1,942)
(1,264,336)
Effect of restatement1
36,330
(19,344)
2,328
–
19,314
Restated at 28 July 2024
(405,597)
(185,818)
(651,665)
(1,942)
(1,245,022)
Provided during the period
(24,025)
(8,268)
(39,912)
–
(72,205)
Exchange differences
(179)
(37)
(231)
–
(447)
Transfers
(586)
–
–
586
–
Transfer to investment property
31
–
–
–
31
Impairment loss
(4,403)
(78)
(473)
–
(4,954)
Reversal of impairment losses
6,890
622
294
–
7,806
Disposals
4,512
843
2,262
1,191
8,808
Reclassifications
(6,710)
6,710
–
–
–
Restated at 27 July 20251
(430,067)
(186,026)
(689,725)
(165)
(1,305,983)
Provided during the period
(23,369)
(8,304)
(41,189)
–
(72,862)
Exchange differences
131
41
162
–
334
Transfers
581
–
–
(581)
–
Impairment loss
(6,529)
(394)
(746)
–
(7,669)
Reversal of impairment losses
8,457
603
236
–
9,296
Disposals
1,866
2,779
1,375
746
6,766
Reclassifications
(2,172)
2,172
–
–
–
At 26 July 2026
(451,102)
(189,129)
(729,887)
–
(1,370,118)
1Restated, during the year management have identified a historic classification error within the asset categories and cost/depreciation lines of the Property, Plant and Equipment note, these have been restated for the period ended 28 July 2024.
- Property, plant and equipment (continued)
Reclassifications relate to assets transferred from short leasehold property to freehold and long leasehold property as a result of a freehold reversion.
Net book amount at 26 July 2026
1,094,904
81,064
180,590
27,598
1,384,157
Restated net book amount at 27 July 20251
1,095,897
85,012
187,740
36,115
1,404,765
Restated net book amount at 28 July 2024
1,071,880
87,759
160,564
54,413
1,374,617
Effect of restatement1
6,102
(4,327)
(576)
(1,199)
–
Net book amount at 28 July 2024
1,065,777
92,086
161,141
55,613
1,374,617
1Restated 28 July 2024 and 27 July 2025.
- Investment property
Group & Company
The Group and Company own eight (2025: six) freehold investment properties, occupied by tenants.
Total
£000Cost:
At 28 July 2024
24,544
Additions
17
Transfer from property, plant and equipment
5,842
Transfer to held for sale
(2,186)
At 27 July 2025
28,217
Additions
7,539
At 26 July 2026
35,756
Accumulated depreciation:
At 28 July 2024
(6,254)
Provided during the period
(218)
Transfer from property, plant and equipment
(31)
Reversal of impairment loss
786
Transfer to held for sale
49
At 27 July 2025
(5,668)
Provided during the period
(244)
At 26 July 2026
(5,912)
Net book amount at 26 July 2026
29,844
Net book amount at 27 July 2025
22,549
Net book amount at 28 July 2024
18,290
Rental income received from investment properties in the period was £1,536,000 (2025: £1,432,000)
In 2024, the investment properties were independently valued. As a result of those valuations, impairment charges and reversals were recognised where necessary. Management has assessed market conditions during the current year and concluded that there have been no significant changes in the property market that would materially affect the fair values of the investment properties. No further valuation has been obtained in the current year. In 2026, two further investment properties were acquired. These have been included at acquisition cost.
14. Events after the balance sheet date
Group & Company
On 10 August 2026, one new hedge relationship, containing five interest-rate swaps, was entered into, with a nominal value of £500 million from 6 February 2030 to 6 February 2032 at a rate of 4.45%.
On 17 August 2026, a new £25 million term loan was agreed, expiring in 2030.
On 20 August 2026, the group repaid the £98 million private placement.
- Going concern
The directors have made enquiries into the adequacy of the Company’s financial resources, through a review of the Company’s budget and medium-term financial plan, including capital expenditure plans and cash flow forecasts.
In line with accounting standards, the going concern assessment period is the 12 months from the date of approval of this report.
The Company has modelled a ‘base case’ forecast in which recent momentum of sales, profit and cash flow growth is sustained. The base case scenario indicates that the Company will have sufficient resources to continue to settle its liabilities as they fall due and operate within its leverage covenants for the going concern assessment period.
A more cautious but plausible scenario has been analysed, in which lower sales growth is realised. The Company has reviewed, and is satisfied with, the mitigating actions that it could take if such an outcome were to occur. Such actions could include reducing discretionary expenditure and/or implementing price increases. Under this scenario, the Company would still have sufficient resources to settle liabilities as they fall due and sensible headroom within its covenants through the duration of the going concern review period.
The Company has also performed a ‘reverse stress case’ which shows that the Company could withstand a significant reduction in sales from those assessed in the ‘base case’ throughout the going concern period, before the covenant levels would be exceeded towards the end of the review period. The directors consider this scenario to be extremely remote. Furthermore, the Company could take additional mitigating actions, in such a scenario, to prevent any covenant breach.
After due consideration of the matters set out above, the directors have satisfied themselves that the Company will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Company continues to adopt the going-concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
- Previous year restatements
During the year, four previous year restatements were identified. They are disclosed and described below:
Restatement of deferred tax
Deferred tax of £10,622,000, relating to previously disposed interest-rate swaps that were hedge accounted for, was incorrectly released to the Income Statement in the year ended 28 July 2024, but should have been released to the hedge reserve.
Restatement of dividends paid
Dividends paid of £19,460,000 have been reclassified from retained earnings to other reserves within the statement of changes in equity and the balance sheet, as at 27 July 2025. It is management’s policy to utilise other reserves for dividend payments.
The disclosures impacted as a result of the above two misstatements have been identified throughout the financial statements. The effect on specific financial statement line items within the Statement of changes in equity are as follows:
SOCIE
Reported in 52 weeks ended
28 July 2024
£000
Restatement
£000
Restated 52 weeks ended 28 July 2024
£000
Retained earnings
44,571
(10,622)
33,949
Hedge reserve
13,794
10,622
24,416
SOCIE
Reported in 52 weeks ended
27 July 2025
£000
Restatement
£000
Restated 52 weeks ended 27 July 2025
£000
Other reserves
128,296
(19,460)
108,836
Retained earnings
80,705
8,838
89,543
Hedge reserve
1,094
10,622
11,716
Restatement of Property, Plant and Equipment
During the year, two historic errors impacting asset categories and cost/depreciation lines of the property, plant and equipment note have been identified. These have been restated for the period ended 28 July 2024 and 27 July 2025. There is no impact to the primary statements.
1. Movements in the property, plant and equipment note have been incorrectly classified in asset categories and cost/depreciation lines in historic years. The impact on the property, plant and equipment note has been detailed below. There is no impact to NBV.
2. Assets within disposed and closed pubs, held at a NBV of nil, were incorrectly left in the fixed asset register. The impact on the property, plant and equipment note has been detailed below. There is no impact to NBV.
Cost
Reported in 52 weeks ended
28 July 2024
£000
Restatement (1)
£000
Restatement (2)
£000
Restated 52 weeks ended 28 July 2024
£000
Freehold and Long Leasehold Property
1,507,704
(30,228)
(2,076)
1,475,400
Short Leasehold Property
258,560
15,017
(7,752)
265,825
Equipment Fixtures and Fittings
815,134
(2,904)
(32,315)
779,915
Assets Under Construction
57,555
(1,199)
-
56,356
Accumulated depreciation and impairment
Reported in 52 weeks ended
28 July 2024
£000
Restatement
(1)
£000
Restatement
(2)
£000
Restated 52 weeks ended 28 July 2024
£000
Freehold and Long Leasehold Property
(441,927)
36,330
2,076
(403,521)
Short Leasehold Property
(166,474)
(19,344)
7,752
(178,066)
Equipment Fixtures and Fittings
(653,993)
2,328
32,315
(619,350)
Cost disposals
Reported in 52 weeks ended
27 July 2025
£000
Restatement (2)
£000
Restated 52 weeks ended 27 July 2025
£000
Freehold and Long Leasehold Property
(11,983)
(561)
(12,544)
Short Leasehold Property
(2,307)
(553)
(2,860)
Equipment Fixtures and Fittings
(4,044)
(4,319)
(8,363)
Accumulated depreciation and impairment disposals
Reported in 52 weeks ended
27 July 2025
£000
Restatement (2)
£000
Restated 52 weeks ended 27 July 2025
£000
Freehold and Long Leasehold Property
4,512
561
5,073
Short Leasehold Property
843
553
1,396
Equipment Fixtures and Fittings
2,262
4,319
6,581
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