Doggedly determined JD Wetherspoon JDW have confirmed that despite the difficult economic climate that it has continued its expansion programme and opened another 47 pubs and created an impressive 2,400 jobs during the year.

Profit was up over 7% for the year ended 25 July with total sales up 4.3% to a record £996.3m however growth was down 5.2% on last year’s as bar sales fell 0.8% after a 2.5% rise last time.

JD continues its policy to supply a mixed high street pub offering that includes quality real ale, value food and early morning Lavazza coffee.

Chairman Tim Martin added a note of caution though indicating his concern that UK government should relax its attitude towards the pub sector saying “The biggest danger to the pub and catering industry is continued increased regulation & taxes. It is hoped that a co-operative and a helpful rather than a punitive approach will be adopted.”

Earlier in the week fellow real-ale stalwart Greene King GNK reported growth of 8.6% like-for-like with margins improving but Greene King also added caution in the present economic climate, that “public sector cuts, benefits reform and the impending VAT rise, are likely to affect future household spending.”

Whitbread WTB also reported total sales growth up 7.9% in total for the 24 weeks to 19 August indicating that margins in the pub sector could be improving. Whitbread, like Wetherspoons have found essential to mix the offering and now owns Costa Coffee and Premier Inns after struggling with profitability in ale sales.

In a reminder of the pressure in the sector, city analyst KBC Peel Hunt maintained its previous 'hold' rating for heavily endebted Punch Taverns PUB whilst reminding that the company still needs to offload further assets and deal with debt.