JD Wetherspoon chair Tim Martin has criticised "zealous" and "unsustainable" increases in regulations and taxes affecting the pub industry.

According to Martin, both the current and previous governments' approach had forced pubs to increase drinks prices; a move which has helped boost supermarket alcohol sales. The comments came as JD Wetherspoon posted a 7.6 per cent growth in revenue for the 26 weeks ending 23 January, compared with the same period last year.

Operating profit increased by 1.4 per cent, although higher interest charges had led to a 11 per cent decline in pre-tax profits to £32.2m. Meanwhile, Punch Taverns reported a 8.6 per cent like-for-like sales increase for the second quarter, although like-for-like net income fell by 6.1 per cent.

Punch Taverns chief executive officer Ian Dyson said: "Despite the challenging UK consumer environment, we remain confident of further improvements being delivered in the second half of this financial year."