Wetherspoon is finally bringing back its iconic drinks

There is no questioning Wetherspoon has cemented itself in British culture from its bargain price fry-ups to its iconic Blue Lagoon cocktail.

While the prices remain generally cheap - though there is no questioning the chain is not as cheap as it use to be (cheers inflation) - many still flock to Spoons on a weekly basis.

Drinks do come and go, like any pub - but many regular Spoons goers were left rather disappointed back in December 2021 when the chain axed Strongbow and Strongbow Dark Fruits.

Wetherspoon replaced the drinks with Stowford Press Apple and Stowford Press Mixed Berries - a nice tipple, yeah - but many were left furious a staple had been removed in its place.

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The move coincided with Spoons' 41-year association with Heineken International concluding and a new 20-year agreement commencing with Budweiser.

The new deal saw Fosters, Kronenbourg 1664 and Heineken replaced by Corona, Budweiser and Leffe Blonde - leaving many punters debating what to order at the bar after their favourite tipple had been removed.

However, both Strongbow and Strongbow Dark Fruits officially retuned to Spoons as of yesterday (2 August), with the chain hoping for the returning drink to be rolled out to all UK bars by the end of the month.

A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson told LADbible: "All pubs will stock Strongbow Dark Fruit starting from Wed 2 Aug.

"The majority of pubs will also stock Strongbow original cider from the same date.

"With any draught rollout installation timings will vary by pub depending on technicians who visit the pub and set up the dispense - we hope to be complete in August."

Like every other drink at Wetherspoon, Strongbow and Strongbow Dark Fruits will be available at the bar or through the app.

Dave Rushen/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

While that is great news for Spoons lovers, the chain announced just last month it was set to close the doors on another 22 pubs, even though 29 sites had already been shut down his year alone.

A spokesperson for the pub chain told LADbible last month: "Wetherspoon put pubs up for sale around 9 months ago and the 22 are those which have not yet been sold and continue to operate as Wetherspoon pubs."

At the time, JD Wetherspoon said it was a 'misinterpretation' to suggest the move to sell some of its pubs was down to difficult trading conditions.

An official update stated: "In fact, the disposals have raised relatively modest amounts (although every little helps) and almost all are related to circumstances… where there is another Wetherspoon pub nearby."