Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin has warned the pub chain's customers that food and drink prices could go up, citing rising energy, food and labour costs.
The warning came as the company announced that it is expected to break even this year.
The firm, which currently has seven Irish pubs and hundreds more across the UK, says it was badly affected by the Covid pandemic when lockdown restrictions forced pubs and restaurants to shut their doors for months on end.
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Now that lockdown restrictions have been lifted and trading has returned to normal, Wetherspoons has reported that its sales are picking up and the business has returned to profitability - but it says there are still big challenges ahead of it.
“As many hospitality companies have indicated, there is considerable pressure on costs, especially in respect of labour, food and energy. Repairs are also running at a higher rate than before the pandemic,” said Tim Martin.
Now Wetherspoons regulars look likely to pay the price, Devon Live reports.
The rising cost of living crisis has left many Irish households having to cut back their spending on luxuries and even some necessities. The ongoing war in Ukraine has added to the pressure on food prices, as wheat supplies come under strain.
Wetherspoon hasn’t posted an annual profit since the year to July 2019, with the pandemic having taken a heavy toll on the business. The company has been forced to close 14 of its pubs since the start of the current financial year.
Last month, the chain announced that it was set to give its staff a mass pay rise.
Read more: Irish pubs: Wetherspoons to start selling €1 pints but only in some locations
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