THE outspoken owner of pub chain JD Wetherspoons, Tim Martin, has criticised the current Covid-19 restrictions as “baffling and confusing”.

Mr Martin, whose chain owns 11 pubs in the Bradford area, slammed the rules as Wetherspoons revealed the ongoing second national lockdown is set to cost the business around £14 million.

It follows the chain reporting sales in the 15 weeks to November 8 dipped by 27.6 per cent following the introduction of the 10pm curfew.

Mr Martin, chair of Wetherspoons, said: “For any pub or restaurant company trading in different parts of the UK, and for customers generally, the constantly changing national and local regulations, combined with geographical areas moving from one tier to another in the different jurisdictions, are baffling and confusing.

“The entire regulatory situation is a complete muddle.”

The benefits of the tougher restrictions since late September – including the curfew, table service and mandatory use of face masks when moving around pubs – are “questionable”, according to the outspoken pub chief.

Pubs owned by Wetherspoons in the Bradford area are:

The Turls Green, Bradford city centre

The Sir Norman Rae, Shipley

The Myrtle Grove, Bingley

The Livery Rooms, Keighley

The Lister Arms, Ilkley

The Obediah Brooke, Cleckheaton

The Crossed Shuttle, Pudsey

The Clothier’s Arms, Yeadon

The Richard Oastler, Brighouse

The Bowling Green, Otley

The Devonshire, Skipton