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Sir Tim Martin is considering opening Wetherspoon pubs overseas as he chafes against the high taxes in Britain.
The founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon said he was weighing up the possibility of striking franchise deals abroad for his pubs. British holiday destinations, such as Benidorm, are expected to be high on the list for potential openings.
Sir Tim said Wetherspoon would focus on areas which “have an existing pub culture”, adding: “I think an existing pub culture is probably the difference between coffee shops – which can go anywhere in the world – and pubs.”
The early-stage plans for overseas openings were first reported by the Sun.
Sir Tim said the current focus was on franchise deals in the UK, but added: “Theoretically there could be some franchises in those British holiday areas.”
Speaking to the Sun, Sir Tim said: “We are looking at it. We think there are probably 100 to 200 franchise partnerships in the UK.
“Now it’s a question of going abroad and it’s a possibility. There is now an opportunity for franchises abroad, but not in China.”
Any overseas opening would mark the first time Wetherspoons has made a foray outside the UK and Ireland. Sir Tim said any decision was still six months away as it pushes ahead with UK openings.
Speaking in 2016, Sir Tim said the chain would “be lucky to expand overseas”.
He said: “It’s taken us this long to open up throughout the UK, and I think a pub is more of a UK thing. I’m not sure that France or Italy would be our stomping ground, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a go.”
The news that Wetherspoons may soon start looking seriously at overseas sites came as Sir Tim criticised the treatment of pubs in the UK.
On Wednesday, said pubs are unfairly treated because MPs rarely visit them, unlike supermarkets which he claims are given more favourable treatment.
This has led to pubs bearing the brunt of higher costs, such as the increase in the national minimum wage and inflated employer National Insurance (NI) rates.
In particular, he has criticised the fact that supermarket food sales are exempt from VAT, while pubs have to pay the levy.
Sir Tim said: “Government-mandated wage increases have a significantly bigger impact on pub and restaurant companies than supermarkets.
“Given the public’s love of pubs, the only possible explanation for this tax discrepancy is that prime ministers and other legislators, in the 45 years since Wetherspoons started trading, have been dinner party-goers, rather than pub-goers.
“Food at dinner parties is VAT-free, subsidised by the legendary ‘man on the Clapham omnibus’ who has fish and chips at his local pub.”