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* British pub operator to cut a further 108 jobs
* Wetherspoon reports first annual loss since 1984
* Rival Marston's warned this week 2,150 jobs at risk
(Adds background, analyst comment)
By Aakash B
Oct 16 (Reuters) - J D Wetherspoon warned on Friday
of the threat posed to British pubs and the wider economy from
coronavirus restrictions, after reporting its first annual loss
since 1984.
Pubs, restaurants and other leisure businesses were ordered
to shut early across England last month, and the government this
week introduced a three-tier system that requires pubs and bars
in areas of "very high" alert to close.
Wetherspoon, which along with other operators had been
recovering before the new system came into effect, said that
like-for-like sales in the first 11 weeks of the new financial
year were down 15%, compared to a 30% fall for its fiscal 2020.
The pub operator, run by chairman Tim Martin who is an
outspoken opponent of coronavirus restrictions, reported a 34
million pound ($44 million) pretax loss for the year to July 26,
versus a profit of 102 million a year earlier.
"The current environment of lockdowns, curfews and
constantly changing regulations and announcements threatens not
only pub companies, but the entire economy," Martin said.
Shares in Wetherspoon were down 9.4% to 870 pence at 0800
GMT after it said in a statement it would make a further 108 job
cuts. In August it said it would cut up to 130 jobs at its head
office and last month added that 400 to 450 airport employees
could lose their jobs as it deals with depressed demand.
This follows Marston's announcement on Thursday of
up to 2,150 job losses, and warnings from pub bosses across
northern England that the latest round of restrictions will wipe
out their businesses.
Wetherspoon, known for its cheap pints and innovations such
as ordering drinks and food via app, also renewed its appeal to
the government to drop VAT rates for pub sales to the same level
as for supermarket alcohol.
($1 = 0.7755 pounds)
(Reporting by Aakash Jagadeesh Babu and Yadarisa Shabong in
Bengaluru; Editing by Patrick Graham and Alexander Smith)
