Wetherspoons and Young’s toast World Cup success as shares rocket

Wetherspoon and other top London-listed pub groups have surged in value over the course of the World Cup as millions of revellers toasted the hot weather and the Three Lions’ success.

Tim Martin’s budget pub chain, which is listed on the FTSE 250, has gained more than £75m in value since the start of the tournament on 11 June, a 10.5 per cent jump.

London-listed Young’s notched a 10.4 per cent hike in value while Diageo, the FTSE 100 Guinness and Smirnoff maker, has climbed 2.7 per cent during the tournament.

“Pubs and beer companies are set to be winners from the World Cup,” said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.

The tournament has coincided with two heatwaves and proved a boon for Britain’s hospitality businesses at a time when the sector is grappling with soaring costs and a growing tax bill.

Hospitality firms were hit with a hike in business rates at the start of April and have said that rising wages and an impending crackdown on flexible work are restricting their ability to hire.

8pm kick-off a boost for pubs

But pubs are expecting another record day on Wednesday as England face Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals.

“The timing of the England versus Argentina semi-final is particularly important as it is being screened at more sociable hours than some of the tournament’s previous big ties,” Coatsworth said.

According to June data from Barclays, pub transactions hit a 2026 peak on Saturday 27 June, when England faced Panama, at five times the year’s daily average. 

Pubs served six million pints during England’s round-of-16 tie against Mexico and 20.4m during the Three Lions’ hard-fought quarter-final win against Norway, according to forecasts by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

In a trading update this month, Young’s said heatwaves and England’s winning run had been a “welcome boost” as it reported a nine per cent rise in revenue.

In total, the tournament is set to deliver a £10bn boost to the UK economy as punters splash out on pints, groceries and travel, according to analysis from accountancy firm Grant Thornton. 

The average fan is expected to spend £315 across nine distinct sectors, Grant Thornton found.