J D Wetherspoon plc (LON:JDW)’s fourth quarter like-for-like sales were 0.4% lower than 2019 levels. That comes as the recovery for draught ales, lagers and ciders was slower than anticipated, where sales were 8% lower than 2019. Spirits, cocktails, food and hotel rooms were higher than 2019 levels, as sites in city centres performed better than suburban locations. The group spent £128m buying out 48 pubs that it previously leased, bringing the proportion of freehold pubs to 68.3% of the estate. Losses for the full year are expected in the region of £30m, higher than previously thought. That c…