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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Wetherspoon to create 10,000 jobs | Wetherspoon to create 10,000 jobs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has announced it will open 250 pubs over the next five years, creating 10,000 jobs in the process. | Pub operator JD Wetherspoon has announced it will open 250 pubs over the next five years, creating 10,000 jobs in the process. |
| The new pubs represent a slight increase in the group's current rate of expansion. | The new pubs represent a slight increase in the group's current rate of expansion. |
| The group opened 39 pubs in the year to the end of July, and had already announced it would open 40 new pubs by the middle of next summer. | The group opened 39 pubs in the year to the end of July, and had already announced it would open 40 new pubs by the middle of next summer. |
| Wetherspoon recently reported record sales in the year to the end of July. | Wetherspoon recently reported record sales in the year to the end of July. |
| The group said it would invest £250m in the new outlets over the five years. | The group said it would invest £250m in the new outlets over the five years. |
| Falling prices | |
| "Our pubs are extremely popular and we wish to build on their success by opening more," said Wetherspoon's chairman Tim Martin. | "Our pubs are extremely popular and we wish to build on their success by opening more," said Wetherspoon's chairman Tim Martin. |
| He told the BBC that recessions "can be a good time to expand" because property prices fall. | He told the BBC that recessions "can be a good time to expand" because property prices fall. |
| "We slowed down our rate of expansion a few years back as we felt that property prices were at an unsustainable level. Now that they've dropped, it does make it easier." | |
| This is the third recession it has experienced in its 30 years of trading. Pubs are closing at a rate of 52 a week according to the British Beer & Pub Association. | |
| The new pubs will be located across the UK, including sites in Sheffield, Livingston, Leominster, Otley, New Malden, Liverpool, Haverfordwest and Newcastle. | The new pubs will be located across the UK, including sites in Sheffield, Livingston, Leominster, Otley, New Malden, Liverpool, Haverfordwest and Newcastle. |
| Wetherspoon currently operates 743 pubs in the UK. | Wetherspoon currently operates 743 pubs in the UK. |