06 February 2024 , 10:02
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Wetherspoon has put up the price of its pints once again - with some Brits now having to fork out £7.30 for a drink at the pub chain.
This is the second time in just six months the popular pub chain has hiked prices with punters having just seen an increase in their tipples in August last year. Prices at Wetherspoon have been confirmed to have risen by nearly 4% from February 1, however, some items saw a lesser rise of around 1% and 2% - on average the average rise across all bar and food products was around 3%.
Pubgoers in London are seeing the average cost of a pint pushing past the £7 mark or sitting just underneath. A pint of Leffe now costs £7.30 in the central London Leicester Square branch The Moon Unde the Water, with a Mad Squirrel Big Sea West Coast IPA now costing £7.09. A pint of San Miguel or Windsor & Eton Treason West Coast IPA costs £6.98.
Traditional pub favourites like Stella Artois now cost £6.88 at the London branch - up from the old price of £6.68 and a pint of Guinness will now set you back £6.66. Those who are steering away from alcohol are also facing price hikes with the chain's low/no alcohol options of Stella Artois, Heineken, low alcohol BrewDog Punk and Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime costing £4.21 a pint up from £4.09 before.
In the Victoria Station London branch, a pint of Leffe costs 20p more at £6.97 and Corona and San Miguel will set you back £6.63 - 19p more than before - whilst a pint of Stella Artois sits at £6.52 - again 19p more expensive. Heading across the border into Edinburgh, Scotland, their Leffe Blonde costs 23p more at its The Booking Office branch at £6.07. Corona, San Miguel and Staropramen are all on sale for £5.60, which is a rise of 21p and a pint of Tennent’s has reached £5.34, up 16p. Alcohol free prices across a range of drinks rose between 9p and 13p taking them to between £2.43 and £3.30 a pint.
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It must be noted that Wetherspoon pricing does vary between its sites as it aims to "be competitive" within different local areas. The research does solidify the fact that a lot of the higher prices pints are at city centre Wetherspoon pubs.
If you are looking for a cheaper pint you best head off the beaten track a little. At The Swatters Carr in Middlesborough, a pint of Leffe Blonde has gone up 17p but is still priced at just £4.45. In a shock to some city centre drinkers, a pint of Worthington’s Creamflow sits at just £1.86. At The Thomas Sheraton in Stockton-on-Tees, a pint of Leffe Blonde can be bought for just £4.22 despite a 16p rise and a Corona and San Miguel are just £3.75 a pint – up 14p.
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Commenting on the findings, consumer champion and Mirror columnist Martyn James said: “It’s one of the signs of the booze price apocalypse when the Spoons hits up to £7.30 for a pint. But do not despair. As this research shows, if you want a bargain, you’re better off ditching the cities and tourist traps and heading out into the country for a nice pint and a chilled day out.”
A Wetherspoon spokesperson told the Mirror: "Most prices in Wetherspoon pubs have increased by 3.95% from Thursday, 1 February, 2024. Some prices have increased by less. Ruddles Bitter has increased by 1%. Bud Light lager, Stowford Press Cider and Doom Bar bitter have increased by 2%. Draught Pepsi has not increased. The average increase, across all bar and food products is 3%.”
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “Wetherspoon, like most pub companies, has seen some big increases in costs. We believe that our prices remain competitive, even after these changes."
Examples of Wetherspoon price rises:
Moon Under the Water (London)
- Stella Artois - £6.88 (up from £6.68)
- Alcohol free Stella Artois - £4.21 (up from £4.09)
- Alcohol free Heineken - £4.21 (up from £4.09)
- Low alcohol BrewDog Punk - £4.21 (up from £4.09)
- Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime - £4.21 (up from £4.09)
Victoria Station (London)
- Leffe - £6.97 (up from £6.77)
- Corona - £6.63 (up from £6.44)
- San Miguel - £6.63 (up from £6.44)
- Stella Artois - £6.52 - (up from £6.33)
The Booking Office (Edinburgh)
- Leffe Blonde (up from £5.84)
- Corona - £5.60 (up from £5.41)
- San Miguel - £5.60 (up from £5.41)
- Staropramen - £5.60 (up from £5.41)
- Tennent’s - £5.34 (up from £5.18)
The Swatters Carr (Middlesborough)
All the shops, pubs and banks closing this year from Paperchase to Wetherspoon
- Leffe Blonde - £4.45 (up from £4.28)
The Thomas Sheraton (Stockton on Tees)
- Leffe Blonde - £4.22 (up from £4.06)
- Corona - £3.75 (up from £3.61)
- San Miguel - £3.75 (up from £3.61)