JD Wetherspoon deletes all social media profiles amid privacy concerns

The Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts for all 900 pubs and head office are shutting down with immediate effect.

"In a world of social media, J D Wetherspoon has chose to close down all Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media accounts for individual pubs and head office", it said in a tweet that is no longer available because it has closed down its Twitter account.

It added that recent concerns regarding the misuse of personal data, following the Facebook scandal, and the addictive nature of social media had influenced its decision.

"Thank you for being a loyal Wetherspoon customer - we hope to see you in your local pub soon".

Wetherspoon, whose chairman and founder Tim Martin is also a vocal champion of Britain leaving the European Union, said it was closing Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts for its head office and nearly 900 pubs in Britain and Ireland.

Wetherspoon has more than 44,000 Twitter followers and more than 100,000 followers on Facebook - which is not many considering how many of us have been known to flock through its doors (especially in that lean week before payday).

Mr Martin said Wetherspoon would remain as vocal as ever, but would instead use its magazine and website as well as the press for news updates.

'It's becoming increasingly obvious that people spend too much time on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and struggle to control the compulsion.

"We were also concerned that pub managers were being side-tracked from the real job of serving customers", he said.

Martin said he did not believe that closing those accounts would affect its business whatsoever "and this is the overwhelming view of our pub managers". Fascinating interviews with Gary Lineker, Russell Brand, Lily Allen, Eric Cantona, Alastair Campbell, Jon Ronson, Nick Clegg and more.