
JD Wetherspoon has announced that it is increasing the price of food and drink in its pubs from today.
The chain, which operates nearly 800 pubs across the UK and Ireland, has hiked the price of its drinks by 15p and its meals by 30p on average, although prices will vary between locations.
The latest price rises mean that an average meal deal at Wetherspoon will go up to £6.82 with an alcoholic drink, or £5.29 without, up from £6.52 and £4.99 respectively. However, some drinks will be safe from the increases, with Budweiser, Carling and Coors all set to remain at the same price, The Mirror reports.
It comes after Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin warned that customers would see price hikes at the pub following tax rises announced in the Government’s autumn Budget. The chairman said that increases to the likes of minimum wage and national insurance contributions would result in Wetherspoon’s tax bill jumping by two third in 2025.
He said: “Cost inflation, which had jumped to elevated levels in 2022, slowly abated in the following two years, but has now jumped substantially again following the Budget. All hospitality businesses, we believe, plan to increase prices, as a result. Wetherspoon will, as always, make every attempt to stay as competitive as possible.”
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A major holiday camp recently unveiled an expansion of JD Wetherspoon pub. Haven announced it is creating the boozers in four holiday parks – in Cleethorpes Beach, Devon Cliffs, Kent Coast and Haggerston Castle.
Earlier this month, Mr Martin also called on the Prime Minister to cut pub food taxes ahead of the jump in costs linked to the Budget. It came as the hospitality giant revealed stronger sales for the half-year so far, despite selling off more pub venues.
The Wetherspoon boss also renewed calls to equalise the VAT paid on food by pub and restaurant businesses with that of supermarkets. Most food and drink in shops has zero VAT whereas restaurants and pubs have a standard rate of 20%.
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