Wetherspoons (LON: JDW) reports a 27.6% decline in sales amid the new coronavirus restrictions.
Pub chains have denounced the government of the new restrictions.
Chairman Tim Martin called rules that include the 10pm curfew and the use of face masks when moving inside the pub to “complete chaos.”
“However, the initial regulations after reopening, introduced on July 4th, were carefully considered and followed thorough consultations, based on a solid scientific foundation of social distancing and hygiene,” he added.
“The benefits of regulatory hyperactivity since then, including the imposition of curfews, are questionable. “Specific uncertainties in the hospitality industry are related to future timescales for the end of “temporary” regulations. ”
Group sales in October were “significantly lower than in the past few months,” following the imposition of many new restrictions, including changes to the tier category (and 10pm curfew order.
“Pubs in Scotland in particular are subject to a very troublesome tier system that has severely impacted trade, as widely reported.”
Current rules during the lockdown mean that all Weatherspoons pubs, as well as pubs in England, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are closed.
In October, the group reported a loss of £905 million a year. Revenues for the group fell 30.6% amid lockdowns and forced closures to £1.26 billion, with a one-off cost of staff and equipment of £29 million.
Wetherspoons stock (LON: JDW) is trading -2.05% at 1.097,00 (1013GMT).
