JD Wetherspoon has warned profits may be hit this year by higher than estimated costs. Financial director Jim Clarke said the costs were due to a number of factors including the increase in food sales - currently growing at a faster rate than bar sales but more labour intensive.

The cost of opening of up to 87 new sites this year, six or seven more than planned and equipping the rest of the company's portfolio with children's licences to allow children to eat in the pubs when accompanied by an adult, have also helped increase costs.