Tim Martin, the founder of Wetherspoons, criticized the restrictions on the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 as “arbitrary” and warned that the bar chain’s first-half profits may be “stealth locked in” by what he called And was erased.
In the stock market update, JD Wetherspoon Tell investors that “uncertainty and the government’s radical change of direction make sales and profit forecasts dangerous.”
The company, where Continue to report soaring sales Before the pandemic, it suffered a loss of 105.4 million pounds in the year to July 2020. Record deficit of 195 million pounds One year later, losses were caused by the restrictions of the coronavirus.
It has been hoping to rebound from the impact of this year’s pandemic, but told investors The government responds to Omicron’s Plan B, Including guidance to work from home where possible, which means that it may “loss or make a small profit” in the first half of its fiscal year.
Martin is the most High-profile Brexitists In the British business world, this role had previously allowed him to endorse Boris Johnson.But since then Be an outspoken critic of the prime minister Covid-19 measures affect the hotel industry, which he claims is not a significant source of disease outbreaks.
“Contrary to the generally accepted view in academia, the typical British pub is usually a bastion of social distancing,” he said on Monday.
“However, repeated warnings and calls for restrictions, mainly from Sage [committee] Members and scholars, coupled with the arbitrary change of direction by the government, always affect customer sentiment and trade in a short period of time.
“In fact, the country seems to be moving in the direction of a secret blockade.”
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He cited the comments of Dr. Angelique Coetzee, President of the South African Medical Association, who stated that the Omicron variant is not worthy of “extreme action” by the British government.
Martin added: “For the reasons they know best, perhaps to encourage more vaccinations, the British government and its advisers are having a completely different and more terrifying impression of this variant, which seems to be the experience of South Africa. Inconsistent.
“Despite these problems, enhanced vaccination and better weather in spring may have a positive impact [on Wetherspoons’ trading] In the next few months. “
