Wetherspoon raises price of its beer by 29% in some pubs
Wetherspoon is raising the price of its beer by 29 percent in some pubs.
As we all know, we are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and the prices of many sacred commodities are on the up.
Skyrocketing energy costs are hitting pubs hard, and now even budget booze chain Spoons is increasing prices.
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The price of a guest ale is going up by 29 percent, taking it from £3.39 to £4.39.
Fear not though, because the price hike is only affecting 15 pubs in London.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "We can confirm that prices have increased at 15 pubs in London, including The Ledger Building in Docklands.
"These are located in central London locations including The City.
"Central London and The City have higher overheads than our other pubs and as a result prices here are higher than in our other pubs across the UK.
"Wetherspoon aims to be competitive on pricing at all times, however, on occasion, prices in its pubs do rise.
"We still believe that our prices for beers, spirits and wine are amongst the best value in their respective areas."
Indeed, £4.39 for a pint in London is still very cheap, and the chain has more than 800 pubs across the UK and Ireland where prices aren't going up.
The outlook going forward for drinkers is pretty bleak at the moment though.
Pub landlords are facing a five to six-time increase in their running costs, according to Tom Stainer, from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
CAMRA is calling on the government to intervene with rising energy costs to prevent the mass closures.
Speaking to the Daily Star, Stainer said: "We're seeing pubs where their energy costs are going up by not just a little bit - we're talking 500 percent to 600 percent.
"How much would 500 percent be on a £5 pint - you’re talking ridiculous amounts of money, 15 or 20 quid for a pint."
He also warned that the 'perfect storm' of factors 'will affect just about every pub out there'.
Stainer said it would be impossible for pubs to pass the cost onto customers like this and is urging the government to step in to help out.
"What you can say with surety is you can't possibly pass on these energy increases and you can't increase the pint by 500 percent," he said.
He went on to note a study from the summer, which found that 50 percent of people already felt the price of a pint was too high.
"And that was done before the cost-of-living crisis before everyone was looking at their own money," he added. "And before these huge energy bills came in.
"It just isn't viable for pubs to pass [price hikes] on to consumers because people wouldn't come drink at pubs anyway."
Damn. Dunno about you guys, but I need a drink.
Topics: UK News, Food And Drink
Jake Massey