J D Wetherspoon posts higher profit as pub patrons defy Brexit gloom

(Reuters) - Britain's J D Wetherspoon reported a higher annual pretax profit on Friday as more Britons visited its pubs even though overall consumer confidence and spending came under pressure due to Brexit uncertainties. The company, which operates more than 900 pubs in Britain and Ireland, said pretax profit after exceptional items rose to 95.4 million pounds for the year ended July 28 from 89 million pounds a year earlier.Pretax profit before exceptional items, however, fell 4.5% to 102.5..