A British chain has announced it intends to open 30 pubs in Ireland despite of the closure of hundreds of traditional Irish pubs in recent years.

British chain JD Wetherspoons, currently operate nine pubs in Northern Ireland and increased returns plus a reduction in property prices have prompted them to open bars south of the border.

Group chairman and founder Tim Martin say the group intends to open between three and four pubs in this fiscal year with a view to eventually expanding up to 30 long term.

The Irish Times reports that the group is about to buy the Tonic House in Blackrock, Co. Dublin and they expect to open a bar in Cork in the coming months.

This week the pub chain reported record annual sales and saw profits before tax and exceptional items grow by 6.3 percent to $122 million ( £76.9million)

The group opened it’s first bar in north London in 1979, they now have 886 pubs throughout the UK.
Earlier this week the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (Digi) announced that almost one pub in the country closed every day.