PUBS group JD Wetherspoon enjoyed better sales in its second quarter, it revealed in a trading update today.

The Watford-based firm, which operates nearly 30 sites on Merseyside, saw like-for-like sales rise by 3% in the first 12 weeks of its second quarter to January 16, compared with 1.6% growth in the first quarter to October 24, 2010.

Total sales for the second quarter period increased by 8.1%, against a first quarter rise of 7.3%.

Year-to-date sales, covering the 25 weeks to January 16, have risen 2.3% on a like-for-like basis and 7.7% including 12 new pubs.

The company said the recent heavy snows hit sales, but by comparison the effect was minimal, having been offset by similar figures affected by heavy snowfall in early January last year.

Plans to open 50 new pubs in the current financial year are on track and the company said the performance of its recently opened sites remains “encouraging”.

And despite higher interest charges from its March 2010 refinancing and increases in the cost of supplies, utility services and excise duty, the board said it is confident of a “reasonable outcome” for the year as a whole, helped by investments in new and existing pubs.

Liverpool stockbroker Panmure Gordon today said it has trimmed £1m off its above-consensus full year pre-tax profits forecast to reflect the changing sales/margin mix.

But it repeats its ‘buy’ recommendation and 525p share price target.