Wetherspoons is set to reduce staff numbers by up to 130 of the 417 jobs at its Watford head office due to the financial impact of the pandemic and expansions plans put on hold.
Chief executive John Hutson said in a statement, 'The decision is mainly a result of a downturn in trade in the pub and restaurant industry generally, a reduction in the company's rate of expansion and a reduction in the number of pubs operated from 955 in 2015 to 873 today.'
Hutson added that the group would work with staff who want to take voluntary redundancy, early retirement, or reduce their working hours in order to reduce the number who would be forced out.
