It hasn’t been a great year for the hospitality industry due to Covid-19 restrictions, with lengthy closures and rule changes it hasn’t exactly been “business as usual”. Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is no different, and it suffered its biggest loss on record - but sympathy is in short supply.
Losses are a rare occurrence for the company, having only recorded three within its 37 years (two of them being 2020 and 2021, with the other way back in 1984).
The chain recorded its worst numbers to date in the 12 months to July 25 with a pre-tax loss of £154.7 million, up from £34.1 million a year ago.
Meanwhile, sales were down from £1.26 billion to £772.6 million.
Despite the grim figure, founder and chairman Tim Martin is hopeful about the future as customers made their return to his pubs after lockdown restrictions eased in the summer.
Martin was a government critic during the pandemic and accused them of mishandling the hospitality sector while also slamming lockdown restrictions, dubbing them as “a threat to civil society and democracy.”
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Since the news broke, people who aren’t particularly fond of the pub boss have taken to Twitter to share their lack of sympathy for Martin.
It might have something to do with the fact that Martin told his 43,000 employees that they would not be paid during the shutdown until government furlough scheme cash had arrived (which he U-turned on due to heavy backlash) and instead urged his staff to apply for jobs at Tesco.
This led to some customers leading a protest to boycott Martin’s pub chain with the hashtag “#NeverSpoons.”
'Wetherspoons heaviest loss on record & sympathy – like everything else – is in short supply' for Tim Martin, who treated his staff as if they were disposable.
— Rosemary (@rosepoet) October 1, 2021
In 'oh dear, how sad' news:
— Mike D - London, Europe (@MikeDLondon) October 1, 2021
Arch-Brexiter Tim Martin's Wetherspoons reports record loss.https://t.co/vp6LmQboEZ
Plus he can't recruit staff now - having lost many due to his beloved Brexit and then telling those left to go and work in Tesco.#BrexitDisaster #NeverSpoons pic.twitter.com/qzZevVt3L3
Laughing at Tim Martin, not laughing for the underpaid staff he will make pay the price for this... https://t.co/TNkZkYYtYk
— The Prole Star (@TheProleStar) October 1, 2021
Feel sorry for the employees. Delighted that Tim Martin is probably going through hell however, he deserves nothing less.
— Kingdom Zebedee ☭ (@kingdomzebedee) October 1, 2021
Hopefully any who lose their jobs will find a career in a brand that actually cares about its staff. Spoons certainly doesnt.
Poor Tim Martin. Tescos are still turning a profit. Maybe he should try working for them.
— James Harper (@telekin) October 1, 2021
Why doesn't Tim Martin go and work for Tescos?
— John Ashley #FBPE #Rejoin (@JohnA11280254) October 1, 2021
There is no beginning to my empathy for Tim Martin. https://t.co/UfkI70T104
— Miffy🏳️🌈 (@miffythegamer) October 1, 2021
Or it might be because Martin is a staunch Brexiteer and has been downplaying the role leaving the EU has had on beer shortages in his pubs.
People also decided to boycott the chain for this reason too.
Twitter's general reaction to Tim Martin posting record losses due to Brexit. pic.twitter.com/DyIsTF6p57
— Marie-Ann Hates Tories, Covidiots and Brexit (@MarieAnnUK) October 1, 2021
Tim Martin takes a shit in his lasagna. Tim Martin eats his lasagna. Tim Martin asks: “who took a shit in my lasagna?” https://t.co/orgZgz9uUT
— Sanjeev Kohli (@govindajeggy) October 1, 2021
Seeing both Farage and Tim Martin reap what they've sown this week is quite lovely. It won't make anything better, of course, but it brightens the day just a little. Comeuppance is fun! Hope there's more to come.
— Aidan Moffat (@AidanJohnMoffat) October 1, 2021
Incoming Tim Martin column in the Mail:
— Rob Simkins (@RobSimkins1) October 1, 2021
“AVOCADO EATING REMAINERS BOYCOTTING GREAT BRITISH PUB CULTURE ARE TO BLAME” https://t.co/QWz6M84jBA
.
— Angel Cage (@AngelCageBand) October 1, 2021
Tim Martin's Witherspoon's loses £154m due to #Lockdown and #Brexit
I'll drink to that.#r4today
"Wetherspoon sinks to heaviest loss on record in its 37 year history".
— EMaxx.com🏴🇪🇺🇧🇦 (@EMaxxUK) October 1, 2021
Tim Martin's next job could be in HGV driving (he just doesn't know it yet)......
Tim Martin of Wetherspoons, before he lost £154.7million... pic.twitter.com/bXApxdkLTT
— Brexitshambles (@brexit_sham) October 1, 2021
I stopped going to my local Wetherspoons because of all the pro-Brexit propaganda Tim Martin put on the tables. I hope he is enjoying his "win". https://t.co/BMlYIYHmPr
— Stephen Applebaum (@grubstreetsteve) October 1, 2021
Tim Martin stunned that the Brexit he fought for has turned on him pic.twitter.com/tJa0MQc27b
— Duncan Lindsay (@DuncanLindsay) October 1, 2021
“During the pandemic, the pressure on pub managers and staff has been particularly acute, with a number of nationwide and regional pub closures and reopenings, often with very little warning, each of which resulted in different regulations,” said Martin.
The founder added: “In spite of these obstacles, Wetherspoon is cautiously optimistic about the outcome for the financial year, on the basis that there is no further resort to lockdowns or onerous restrictions.”
