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Jan 18 (Reuters) - British pubs group JD Wetherspoon Plc warned of significantly higher costs and lowerlike-for-like sales in the next six months, taking the shine offhigher sales over the Christmas quarter.
The owner and operator of pubs in Britain and Ireland saidlike-for-like sales rose 3.2 percent in the 12 weeks to Jan. 15,the second quarter of its fiscal year, with like-for-like salesfor the 25 weeks to Jan. 15 up 3.4 percent.
In November, Wetherspoon's chairman Tim Martin had warnedthe company saw higher costs over the remainder of its financialyear from wages, business rates and repairs.
The wage bill was expected to rise by around four percent,business rates cost an additional 7 million pounds ($8.6million) and an apprenticeship levy an additional 2 millionpounds, Martin said on Wednesday.
"Nevertheless, as a result of modestly better-than-expectedyear-to-date sales, we currently anticipate a slightly improvedtrading outcome for the current financial year, compared withour expectations at the last update," he added.
Wetherspoon shares slipped 0.8 percent to 895p by 0815 GMT.
Last week, rival Mitchell & Butlers called itsChristmas trading 'particularly strong', playing down fears of lower spending by British drinkers.
Wetherspoon, founded in 1979 by Martin, owns more than 950pubs in Britain and Ireland, providing low-priced drinks andfood, including breakfasts and promotions such as steak andcurry clubs.
Martin, a prominent backer of Britain's bid to leave the EU,has previously warned that a "bullying" approach by Europeanleaders over Brexit risked hurting sales of French wine, Germanbeer and Swedish cider.
The company's financial year runs to the end of July. Itexpects to announce interim results on March 10. ($1 = 0.8110 pounds) (Reporting by Rahul B in Bengaluru; Editing by MarkPotter/Keith Weir)