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Pre-close Statement

Current Trading

For the first 10 weeks of the second quarter (to 3 January 2010), like for like sales increased by 1.2%, compared to 0.3% growth in the first quarter (to 25 October 2009). Total sales for the same period increased by 5.3%, compared to 4.5% in the first quarter. In the first 12 weeks of the second quarter (to 17 January 2010), like for like sales decreased by 0.3%, and total sales increased by 3.7%, with the last two weeks being affected by adverse weather conditions. In the year to date (25 weeks to 17 January 2009), like for like sales increased by 0.1% and total Company sales, including recently opened pubs, increased by 4.1%.

We expect operating margins for the half year ending 24 January 2010 to be in line with the same period last year, with the benefit from lower energy costs being off-set by a higher level of repairs expenditure.

Good move up today - interims 12th March.

in at 432p

JD Wetherspoon plc

Change in results announcement date

JD Wetherspoon plc intends to announce its interim results for the six months
ended 24 January 2010 on 11 March 2010, not 12 March 2010 as previously
announced in the Company's last trading update

SKINNY will they go down or up.

Yes!

Baylis - the chart looks promising - I'm long @440 - but Thursday will tell!

I've closed @492 +52 - good luck Baylis!

Got stopped out @487.0 + 22, I,m happy with that, volume scarily low.

Half Yearly Report.

Highlights:



Turnover up 4.1% to 488.1m (2009: 468.7m)

Profit before tax up 41.4% to 36.2m (2009: 25.6m)

Profit before tax before exceptional items* up 17.5% to 36.2m (2009: 30.8m)

Earnings per share up 40.0% to 17.5p (2009: 12.5p)

Earnings per share before exceptional items* up 9.4% to 17.5p (2009: 16.0p)

Free cash flow per share of 15.3p (2009: 28.2p)

Total and special dividends per share of 19p (2009: 0p)

17 pubs opened; 2 closed; total now 746

Broker note today:
"Yesterdays sharp move in JDWs share price suggests that the market was looking for something special from the company and it has got it. The bank facility has been extended and increased, which suggests that the group intends to press the go-pedal as far as estate expansion is concerned & the dividend has been resumed. Although trading has slowed, trading towards the end of H1 will have been impacted by snow in 2010. A moderate easing in comps due to snow last Feb should have helped the first six weeks of H2 but LfL sales are moderately lower. However, this may be hair splitting and investors have every reason to be pleased with the company. Around 35.5p of earnings suggest a PER of 14.0x and the group yields some 2.5% and we are retaining our BUY recommendation."

Just wondering, been a while since visired one of there pubs, are they showing the World Cup?

Apparently they have a 'No TV policy', but suspect that might change, though with the matches on normal terrestial TV, many may stay at home to watch, which may prompt them to retain their stance. JDW very adept at profiting from market changes, so I am sure they have already thought of this one.

Harry - Don't think it will affect there day trade much, lot of office workers Lunch there and also tourists in cities, we have two in Aberdeen. Even though covered on terrestial TV an awful lot of people do watch football in pubs and if JDW don't adapt they will miss a lot of trade. Have to wait and see what the do.

Fair play to CEO John Hutsonthe directors keep selling big timeand the SP keeps moving on upthey have found a formula run their dives with studentssell borderline expiry dated products for students and piss headsmost are too pissed to taste the foodand sell the product at twice the price supermarkets charge for almost expired goodspersonally I have only been to two WetherspoonsTower Bridge and Maidstone.twice bitten three times shyI would rather poke myself in the eye with a cactusand to watch the World Cup.fcuk off!!!!

The point is, imo, their formula works, when other pub chains are struggling big time. Like it or not, it is successful & people go there.

Cant disagree with that Harry

As an aside - I have been in one of their pubs and they had a flat screen showing Sky news.

tabasco - surprised you could tell the difference,don't all pubs south of Birmingham sell pish disguised as beer?

WATCHED MU v AC in A WETHERSPOONS PUB LAST NIGHT.