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| Smoke-free pubs boost Wetherspoon | Smoke-free pubs boost Wetherspoon |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| JD Wetherspoon says its move to make its pubs smoke-free ahead of a ban on smoking in enclosed spaces in England next year has benefited its business. | JD Wetherspoon says its move to make its pubs smoke-free ahead of a ban on smoking in enclosed spaces in England next year has benefited its business. |
| Its English and Welsh pubs which banned smoking last year have reported 2% higher sales than in the same period in 2004, when smoking was allowed. | Its English and Welsh pubs which banned smoking last year have reported 2% higher sales than in the same period in 2004, when smoking was allowed. |
| In Scotland - where a national ban has already come into force - sales at its 39 pubs were 5.2% higher than before. | In Scotland - where a national ban has already come into force - sales at its 39 pubs were 5.2% higher than before. |
| Many pub firms have warned that smoking bans could severely hit their earnings. | Many pub firms have warned that smoking bans could severely hit their earnings. |
| 'Encouraging performance' | 'Encouraging performance' |
| Wetherspoon reported a 9% overall increase in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to the end of October, compared to the same period last year. | Wetherspoon reported a 9% overall increase in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to the end of October, compared to the same period last year. |
| Conditions may be more testing in the winter months Jim Clarke, Wetherspoon finance director See Wetherspoon's shares | Conditions may be more testing in the winter months Jim Clarke, Wetherspoon finance director See Wetherspoon's shares |
| It also said that like-for-like sales at non-smoking pubs in England and Wales had risen 12% over the past year. | It also said that like-for-like sales at non-smoking pubs in England and Wales had risen 12% over the past year. |
| The positive trading update boosted Wetherspoon's share price, which rose 6% in early morning trade on the London Stock Exchange. | The positive trading update boosted Wetherspoon's share price, which rose 6% in early morning trade on the London Stock Exchange. |
| From next summer, smoking in enclosed places will be banned in England and Wales. | From next summer, smoking in enclosed places will be banned in England and Wales. |
| Wetherspoon said the early evidence suggested that this would not have a drastic impact on its business. | Wetherspoon said the early evidence suggested that this would not have a drastic impact on its business. |
| The firm's English and Welsh outlets - the first to be converted to non-smoking premises - were a cross-section of urban and rural premises. | The firm's English and Welsh outlets - the first to be converted to non-smoking premises - were a cross-section of urban and rural premises. |
| "So far in Scotland, most pub companies have said they are encouraged by the performance," said Jim Clarke, Wetherspoon's finance director. | "So far in Scotland, most pub companies have said they are encouraged by the performance," said Jim Clarke, Wetherspoon's finance director. |
| He said it was too early to tell whether this reflected the likely long-term effect of the smoking ban. | He said it was too early to tell whether this reflected the likely long-term effect of the smoking ban. |
| "But we haven't had a winter yet," he added. "Conditions may be more testing in the winter months." | "But we haven't had a winter yet," he added. "Conditions may be more testing in the winter months." |