UK pub operator JD Wetherspoon is to open 30 new pubs during 2007.

The company has announced it will invest more than £35m developing new properties across the UK, including new outlets in Sheffield, Bishop Auckland, St Austell, Hertford and Devizes. The new openings are expected to create around 1,200 new jobs.

Wetherspoon also plans to invest a further £25m in its existing pubs, with the creation of exterior smoking areas ahead of the smoking ban and the installation of super-chilled technology.

Wetherspoon chief executive, John Hutson, said: “ Our non-smoking pubs have proven very popular and this has given us the impetus to open more pubs in 2007.

“Although the non-smoking ban might effect sales in all pubs when it is introduced, we are confident that in the long-term it will result in more people visiting pubs and that it will be a positive move. As a result of this, we are increasing our pub opening programme in 2007.”

Wetherspoon currently operates 662 pubs and bars in the UK.