Wetherspoon's plans to reopen its pubs 'in or around June'

Wetherspoon's plans to start re-opening its pubs and hotels 'in or around June', it was revealed today.  Chairman Tim Martin was forced to close all 900 pubs and furlough 40,000 workers when Britain went on lockdown on March 23.    There were threats to boycott the chain when Mr Martin claimed that closing all pubs was 'over the top'.  His pub in Crystal Palace, south London, was daubed with the words 'pay your staff' after the Brexit-backing boss refused to pay staff until he had received money from the Government and told employees to 'get jobs at Tesco' in the meantime.  Today JD Wetherspoon said it aims to raise £141million as part of a share placement scheme so it can re-open as the summer begins.   The company said it would raise the amount through the issue of up to 15.7 million shares at 900 pence per share.