Pub giants Wetherspoon have reported a 7.4 per cent increase in sales for the 2018/19 financial year with more than £1.8billion spent in their pubs across the country.

Like for like sales were up by 6.8 per cent but profits before tax were down by 7.2 per cent to £95.4million.

Revenues were at an all-time high, up to £1.818.8 billion, almost double the revenues from 2010.

In a presentation on the day the results were released, Wetherspoons revealed that the average weekly takings made by their 879 pubs was £48,000.

Bar sales were up 5.8 per cent, food sales increased by 8.3 per cent and fruit and slot machine revenues recorded a 10.3 per cent increase.

The group reported a double-digit increase in wages of 12.9 per cent, with their wage bill increasing by £71.4million.

As ever, Wetherspoons chairman Tim Martin has used the publication of the report to make his feelings known about Brexit.

A whole page of his six-page chairman's statement is given over to the subject.

Mr Martin also commented on how Wetherspoons provide 0.1 per cent of the UK Government's revenue through its tax receipts.

He said: Wetherspoon is proud to pay its share of tax and, in this respect, is a major contributor to the economy.

"In the year under review, we generated total taxes of £764.4m, an increase of £35.6m, compared with the previous year, which equates to approximately 42 per cent of our sales - and also amounts to approximately one-thousandth of all UK government revenue."

On Brexit he added: "Despite continuing political problems, stemming from the transfer of democratic power to a technocratic elite, Wetherspoon continues to perform well.

"Like-for-like sales for the six weeks to 8 September 2019 were up 5.9per cent."

A staunch 'leaver' Mr Martin hit the headlines last week by saying he would cut the price of a pint at Wetherspoons pubs by 20pence once the UK left the EU.