TD Wetherspoon, the publicly-quoted British pubs company that has acquired four pubs in Dublin over the past year and has just opened its first pub in Cork, has announced a 7.5% increase in revenues to £1.5bn for the year to the end of July.

The group's profits before tax and exceptional items fell by 2% to £78m - this was in-line with market expectations and comes as Wetherspoon's registered underlying sales growth of 3.3% and a rise in total sales of 7.4% to £1.5bn.

No separate breakdown has been given in the accounts for the company’s Irish pubs.

In the statement accompanying the results the company again criticised Britain's new higher minimum wage, which it says will put excessive pressure on pubs.

It also says that it expects a stronger performance through its 2015/2016 fiscal year as new pubs open, and economic conditions improve in the UK and Ireland.

The brand has defended charging €1 more for Beamish stout in its new Cork bar than in its south-Dublin establishments.

The company says that this is in-line with new prices to be charged in all Wetherspoon pubs in Ireland and that prices will be increased in the original Irish outlets.