Around 32 million people have visited Wetherspoons' pubs since lockdown eased

Pub giant Wetherspoon has said about 32 million people have visited its pubs since they reopened their doors at the start of the July.

Tim Martin, founder of the chain, told investors that he believes the safety of pubs during the pandemic has been “widely misunderstood”.

The company said it has reported 66 positive tests for Covid-19 among its 41,564 employees since reopening.

Tim Martin said: “Trade was very quiet over the weekend, as the public weighed up the evidence about the alleged dangers of going out – Wetherspoon sales were 22.5% below the equivalent Saturday last year.

“It is clearly not the case that pubs are ‘dangerous places to be’.

“There have been more positive cases at one farm in Hereford than at all Wetherspoon pubs – and over four times as many at one sandwich-making facility in Northampton.”