The judges stated that: “JD Wetherspoon’s founder Tim Martin bemoans the VAT burden placed on pubs almost as vocally as he boosts Brexit.
“With pre-tax profits for the year up 25% to £102.8m and a new table-top service app, it’s beer and sandwiches all round.”
The criteria for the list, organised by Management Today are: quality of management, financial soundness, quality of goods and services, ability to attract retain and develop top talent, community and environmental responsibility, innovation, quality of marketing, value as a long-term investment, inspirational leadership, company competitiveness and corporate governance.
Wetherspoon’s managing director John Hutson said: “We are delighted that we have been named as the most admired company within the restaurants and pubs sector as well as rated highly across all sectors.
“The restaurants and pubs sector is extremely dynamic and competitive, and it is rewarding to be seen as the best.
“Many of the companies listed in the overall rankings have been established far longer than Wetherspoon, so it proves just how successful the company has been since it was founded in 1979.
“Our success is due to the sterling work of our staff in our pubs and head office, and our suppliers, and, of course, our customers.”
This year’s list was topped by last year’s runner up Unilever with drinks giant Diageo featuring in the top 10, having climbed from 16th place last year.
Pub group Marston’s also featured in the top 100 having climbed from 214th place last year to rank 98th this time around. Additionally, Greene King was included in a separate list of the five most admired companies from the pub and restaurant sector. In order, these ranked; JD Wetherspoon, Domino's Pizza (UK), Marston's, SSP Group and Greene King.