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(Alliance News) - JD Wetherspoon PLC on Friday said statements published in the Guardian article following the company's announcement about the equity placing are "completely untrue".
The pub operator pointed to the Guardian article saying that "Wetherspoon moves to buy smaller pubs on the cheap amid Covid crisis" and that "it is targeting pubs in central London."
Wetherspoon on Friday said it operates pubs which are three or four times larger than average and rarely "targets" existing pubs.
All the company's pubs in central London had other uses before Wetherspoon's occupation, it said.
Wetherspoon also highlighted that its press release on Tuesday said that the company is "considering ... a number of properties in central London, the freehold reversion of pubs of which it is the tenant, and properties adjacent to successful pubs".
"The Guardian should avoid legends and stick to the truth," said Wetherspoon Chair Tim Martin on Friday.
Wetherspoon shares were trading 1.7% lower in London on Friday at 1,214.00 pence each.
By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com
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