JD Wetherspoon reports near-eightfold rise in profits

Chain considers opening more outlets as consumers dine in at low-cost pubs amid cost of living crisis

JD Wetherspoon has revealed a near eightfold uplift in pre-tax profits as price-conscious consumers flocked to drink and dine in at its network of low-cost pubs.

The chain reported on Friday that pre-tax profits in the six months to the end of January had risen to £36m from £4.6m a year earlier and said it expected a “reasonable outcome” for the current financial year.