Wetherspoon has increased the price of drinks by 15p and meal deals by 30p – meaning the average meal deal will cost £5.29 without an alcoholic drink, or £6.82 with one
Wetherspoon is hiking the price of food and drinks across its pubs from today.
The pub chain has increased the price of drinks by 15p and meal deals by 30p. The average price of a meal deal at Wetherspoon without an alcoholic drink is £4.99 and with a drink it is £6.52 – so the increase will see these prices rise to £5.29 and £6.82, respectively.
Keep in mind prices do vary depending on your location. But not all drinks will go up in price today – Budweiser, Carling and Coors will all be safe from any increase. The price rises will take place in every Wetherspoon pub apart from its seven boozers in the Republic of Ireland.
Wetherspoon last put up prices in some of its UK airport branches last July. Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin told The Sun, who first reported the price rises: “Wetherspoon has always tried to remain as competitive as possible. We hope that our prices will still be reasonable in spite of these increases.”
Wetherspoon currently has just under 800 pubs. The price rise comes after Tim Martin warned Wetherspoon is set to face a £60million jump in costs in April following changes to National Insurance and minimum wage going up. Employers will pay more National Insurance from April 6, with the rate rising from 13.8% to 15%. The earnings threshold for when employers start paying this tax will also be lowered from £9,100 per year to £5,000.
At the same time, minimum wage will rise by 6.7%. For someone aged 21 and over, minimum wage will rise from £11.44 an hour to £12.21 an hour, while those aged 18 to 20 will see their rate rise from £8.60 an hour to £10 an hour. If you’re under 18 or you’re an apprentice, minimum wage is rising from £6.40 an hour to £7.55 an hour.
Tim Martin has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cut pub food taxes ahead of the jump in costs. Most food and drink in shops has zero VAT whereas restaurants and pubs have a standard rate of 20%. Tim Martin said: “This tax advantage allows supermarkets to subsidise the price of beer they sell.
“The VAT distortions that exist today will inevitably create more supermarkets and less pubs. Wetherspoon therefore calls upon Sir Keir Starmer to redress this imbalance, thereby striking a blow for tax equality and ending discrimination in favour of dull dinner parties.”
