Wetherspoons has seen its like-for-like (LFL) sales increase annually by 5.6% in the 13-week period to 27 April.

The pub chain said its total sales in the period increased by 5% in the quarter, while increasing by 4.2% in the year to date.

The firm said that its total sales are “slightly less” than its LFL sales as a result of a small number of pub disposals.

In the year to date, the company has opened two pubs and has sold seven, taking its total operating portfolio to 795 pubs.

Chairman at Wetherspoons, Tim Martin, said: "The company's main ambition, as always, is to improve its appeal to staff and customers. In this connection, for example, the company has invested in new staff facilities in 520 pubs (49 in the current year), including staff rooms and changing rooms, with approximately 270 planned for the future. The investment per pub is approximately £100,000.

"The product range for customers continues to evolve. For example, the company has recently introduced, nationwide, the highly regarded Jaipur traditional ale from the Thornbridge Brewery, as well as renowned international beer brands, Kronenbourg 1664 Biere and Poretti."

In his statement, Martin added that the firm’s recent trading has been helped by "favourable weather", leading it to anticipate a "reasonable outcome" for the financial year.

This is in spite of recent wage and tax increases costing Wetherspoons approximately £1.2m a week.

Wetherspoons added that it has also bought back over £40m of its own shares in the past year.

Head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, Derren Nathan, commented: "Overall, the group’s expecting a ‘reasonable’ outcome for the year, helped by the favourable weather seen in recent weeks. However, that’s in the context of additional weekly wage and tax bills of £1.2m. That’s reflected in analyst forecasts that operating profit will remain broadly flat, despite the ongoing sales growth.

"Martin’s statement, for once, focussed on operational improvements such as new staff facilities and menu additions more than it did on government policy and although pub numbers fell by one in the quarter, the group’s set to add four or five this year and ten next year. Wetherspoons is a first class operator and it’s doing all the right things to build market share in a challenging environment."

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