Pub chain Wetherspoons – informally referred to as Spoons by fans across the nation – has increased the cost of its popular meal deals in a double blow to customers.
The Sunday People revealed the chain’s burger and drink deal has risen on average from £7.25 to £7.40.
Customers have been none-too happy on Twitter about the price hike. Matt Bentley said: “Weatherspoons increasing prices of food and drink is possible the worst thing to have ever happened to me.”
While John added: “..my benefits only stretch so far…”
But Simon Royal wasn’t too bothered by the price increase, adding: “Two lunch meals, a soft drink and a pint of real ale for £10. Can’t be beaten.”
A chicken burger is said to have jumped from £4.59 to £4.75 while a pint of Kronenbourg has risen from a whopping £3.09 to £3.19.
Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We have introduced a new menu with some new products and there maybe some changes on food and drink prices.
“We aim to remain extremely competitive. However we will not comment on individual prices.”
Thew news comes after Tim Martin warned the future of Britain’s pubs was at risk from glaring disparities in the tax system.
The Wetherspoon’s chief last week claimed pubs are at a huge tax disadvantage compared to supermarkets in terms of business rates and VAT.
He said: “The biggest danger to the pub industry is the continuing tax disparity between supermarkets and pubs, in respect of VAT and business rates.
“The company has previously emphasised the far-higher taxes per meal or per pint that pubs pay compared to supermarkets.
“For example, supermarkets pay less than 2p per pint for business rates, whereas pubs pay around 18p per pint.
“The increase in business rates per pint for pubs from next month will be around 2p, further exacerbating the tax gap.
“Pubs also pay VAT of 20 per cent in respect of food sales, but supermarkets pay almost nothing, enabling supermarkets to subsidise the price of alcoholic drinks.
“Wednesday’s budget will weigh far more heavily on pubs than supermarkets, especially since wage costs per pint or meal are approximately 10 times higher in pubs.”
Mr Martin’s comments come as Wetherspoon released its latest results.
In the six weeks to 5 March 2017, like-for-like sales across the chain increased by 2.7 per cent and total sales decreased by 0.2 per cent.
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