Pub company JD Wetherspoon will become an increasingly food-led operation in an effort to curb falling sales at its non-smoking pubs.
The group, which plans to open 50 smoke-free venues by Christmas, has seen turnover fall by 7% at converted outlets as lower-margin food sales failed to offset falling bar revenues.

Chief executive John Hutson also plans to diversify the drinks offer to woo customers back. "There may be fewer tall tables and less vertical drinking going on," he said.

The company will review the success of its latest non-smoking openings early next year. Last week the 655-strong managed group saw pre-tax profits drop by 16% to £38.7m in the 12 months to 24 July, down from £46.3m the previous year.

Chairman Tim Martin also blamed the poor figures on media scare stories over binge-drinking, higher labour, utility and repair costs, and increased competition from the off-trade.

Like-for-like sales at the no-frills operator were down by 0.6%. Hutson admitted Wetherspoon's had had a subdued year, but said other city-centre managed pubs were in the same boat.

By Tom Bill