The stock market-listed group, which owns a small number of pubs in Ireland, has been eyeing locations in Spain for its debut on the Continent.
The new ventures will typically be operated on a franchise basis, following the success of franchise partnerships the group has in the UK with universities and a holiday parks firm.
The first premises on the Continent is due to open next year.
But UK trade with the EU now subject to significant barriers as a result of Brexit.
Founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon Tim Martin. Photo: Getty
News in 90 Seconds – 21 November 2025
JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin was a strong advocate for Brexit, donating hundreds of thousands of pounds to the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union. Following the 2016 vote, the UK went on to leave the EU almost six years ago, hitting business between British firms and the trade bloc.
A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, which operates a total of about 800 pubs, confirmed that the pubs company will now use a newly established subsidiary in Dublin to launch its business in mainland Europe.
“Given our current plans for a number of franchise sites in Europe, it is more straightforward if the agreements are between EU-based companies and JD Wetherspoon Europe has been set up [in Dublin] as a result,” he said.
JD Wetherspoon opened its first pub in Ireland in 2014, with The Three Tun Tavern in Blackrock, Co Dublin. Later the same year, it opened a premises in Dún Laoghaire.
It later opened a handful of pubs in Cork, Carlow and Waterford. However, in 2023 it put those properties, as well as a premises it planned to open in Galway, up for sale. It sold The Three Tun Tavern in 2022.
It still operates five pubs in Dublin.
Businesses never regret increased democracy because democracy and prosperity are inextricably linked
After the UK voted in favour of leaving the EU in 2016, Mr Martin hailed the outcome of the referendum as a victory for democracy.
“Businesses never regret increased democracy because democracy and prosperity are inextricably linked,” he said in an interview with the BBC at the time.
Addressing the International Monetary Fund last month, the UK’s chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said that Brexit has caused long-term damage to the UK’s economy.
The UK’s Office for Budgetary Responsibility recently claimed that Brexit will reduce the UK’s productivity by 4pc in the long term.
Mr Martin, who was knighted in 2023, said in January this year that JD Wetherspoon is looking at expanding overseas.
He cited destinations in Spain such as Alicante, Mallorca and Benidorm that are popular with British holidaymakers as the types of locations that would be suitable for the group.
In the year to July 27, 2025, JD Wetherspoon reported revenue of £2.1bn (€2.4bn), a 17pc increase on the previous financial year. Its like-for-like sales rose 5.1pc and it made a pre-tax profit of £81.4m.
The group held its annual general meeting yesterday .