Urging EU leaders to take a “wise-up pill”, Tim Martin said any move to switch suppliers would not have adverse effects on the UK but be “highly damaging to the economy of the EU”. It is my view that the main risk from the current Brexit negotiations is not to Wetherspoon, but to our excellent EU suppliers – and to EU economies,” said Martin, who owns 30% of the company. The chain started out with one pub in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1979 and now has nearly 1,000 outlets. Martin has previously criticised the EU and last year had said he would stop selling drinks brands from other European countries if senior EU leaders maintained a “bullying” approach to Brexit negotiations. “Wetherspoon is extremely confident that it can switch from EU suppliers, if required, although we would be very reluctant to initiate such actions,” said Martin.

Source: The Guardian September 15, 2017 07:00 UTC