The Saltoun Arms in Fraserburgh has been added to the list of pubs that JD Wetherspoon is looking to offload amid difficult trading conditions.

The pub chain has announced it is putting another seven pubs up for sale, just weeks after announcing the sale of 32 pubs across the country.

The pubs are the Coronet in Holloway, Cross Keys in Peebles, General Sir Redvers Buller in Crediton, Lord Arthur Lee in Fareham, Plough & Harrow in Hammersmith, Saltoun Inn in Fraserburgh and the Thomas Leaper in Derby.

The pubs will be open as Wetherspoon until they are sold, a spokesperson confirmed today.

In a trading update, the company said like-for-like sales in the first 14 weeks of the financial year were 9.6% higher than the same period last year and 0.4% higher than the 14 weeks ending 3 November 2019.

However, costs, especially in respect of labour, food and repairs, were "substantially higher".

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: "Sales have improved since the ending of restrictions in the early part of this calendar year and are considerably above the same period in the last financial year.

"The company reported a return to positive cash flow in FY22 and anticipates a positive cash flow in the current year.

"In my comments on the full year results released on 7 October 2022, I set out various threats to the hospitality industry and these continue to apply. Those caveats aside, in the absence of further lockdowns or restrictions, the company remains cautiously optimistic about future prospects."

Savills and CBRE have been appointed to manage the sale of the seven venues, which include five freehold and two leasehold units.

Senior Director at CBRE Toby Hall said the added pubs would be appealing to buyers.

He said: "These additional properties are all substantial, well-located pubs which are fitted to a high standard. Most of the properties are coming to the market for the first time in many years which should give them a broad appeal to both local and national buyers."

FTSE 100

The UK's top share index, the FTSE 100, was down seven points 7,377 shortly after opening this morning, following Monday's 67-point rise.

Brent crude futures were 3.62% lower at $92.52 a barrel.

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