SPOONS is famous for bargain grub and booze – but there are certain menu items you should NEVER order if you want the best deal, an ex-worker claims.
Ordering a pitcher of booze or a premium burger won’t get you the best bang for you buck, and could even be driving up your bill, according to Robert Kivits.
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Robert, 23, from London, used to work at his local Wetherspoons in Bristol when he was a student.
He joined in September 2020 and spent nearly two years at the chain.
Working his way up from pulling pints, serving food and helping in the kitchen, he went on to become a supervisor in charge of new staff – so Robert knows all the tricks of the trade.
He’s shared his top tips on how to get the best deals at the chain with The Sun.
Any way to save money at the chain will come in handy as the bargain boozer has recently hiked prices.
In March, it reportedly added 10p to the cost of a pint, and 20p for pubs in London.
But the pub chain’s boss, Tim Martin, hinted at further hikes, stating that soaring prices of labour, food and energy bills have put “considerable pressure on costs”.
The chain said it hopes to break even this year.
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It has been known to cut prices for customers though.
Last year, Wetherspoon slashed the price of its popular steak and curry club deals on certain days of the week.
It even launched an offer last year where punters could get some beers for 99p – initially supposed to be for one month only, the deal was extended by another three months.
If you want to find your nearest ‘Spoons and put Robert’s tips to the test, use the chain’s branch locator tool.
NEVER get a pitcher
If you’ve got that Friday feeling, you might be tempted to order a pitcher with your pals.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that you can spread the cost of your cocktails between you and save some pennies – but Robert said pitchers are “not value for money”.
He said: “Customers think you can’t go wrong with a pitcher, and used to rave about how great they were.
“But if you just drink normal spirits instead, you’d end up saving money and drinking the same amount of alcohol.”
Prices will vary depending on which branch you go to, but pitchers usually cost around £6.99.
But Robert claimed a jug only contains two double shots of alcohol – and the rest is mixer.
If two of you are sharing, Robert said you’d be better off ordering a double shot and mixer as a drink instead, which will cost around £3.20 each – a saving of 79p.
However, it’s important to note that prices do vary between branches.
Swerve premium burgers
Spoons’ burger meal deals are popular among punters.
Prices vary from chain to chain, but when we checked prices at The Moon & Stars in Penge, London, a classic burger and a drink was as little as £5.15.
However, the cost of your burger creeps up if you order a Gourmet option, which is £6.80 with a soft drink or £8.10 with an alcoholic one.
And the premium Empire State burger, which comes with two beef patties, cheese, bacon, chips and onion rings, clocks in at £8.05, or £9.35 with booze – the priciest burger of the lot.
“Premium burgers cost more – but usually the only difference is cheese, bacon and sauce,” Robert said.
“Go for a classic and add on the toppings.”
Robert said he used to add bacon to a classic burger to keep his costs down when eating at the chain.
When The Sun checked prices, adding bacon to a classic burger costs £1.05 – which would mean you would be paying £6.20 with a soft drink, or £7.50 with booze.
That’s still less than the cost of a Gourmet burger or the Empire State burger.
Although your custom made burger might be missing a few ingredients compared to the premium options, it could be a good way of keeping your bill low.
Share a mixed grill
If you’re on a budget but fancy a meal out, opt for a large mixed grill and split it between you, Robert said.
You’ll have enough food to go around, and you won’t be break the bank.
Prices will vary, but a large mixed grill costs £9.65 with a soft drink, or £10.95 with an alcoholic bevvy.
You’ll get gammon, pork loin, rump steak, lamb, two sausages, a fried egg, six onion rings, and a choice between a jacket potato or chips.
“That could go easily between three people with a normal appetite,” Robert said.
That works out at around £3.65 each if three of you are sharing – although you might need to shell out for extra drinks.
Feed the family for under £20
A meal out for the whole family can be super expensive when you’ve got three or four hungry mouths to feed.
But if you do some savvy ordering, you could feed the family for under £20, Robert said.
“You can order three small plates for around £11,” he said.
“People don’t really think about ordering the small plates – but it is a lot of food.
“I used to go for chicken wings – you usually get 10 wings, which is more than enough for one person.
“I’d go for loaded chips and a mini pizza as well.”
He said ordering one more small plate of food on top – you can get a bowl of chips for £2.99, for example – and a round of drinks will cost around £20.
“There aren’t many places you can go to feed the family for £20 or less.”
Make the most of refills
Coffee lovers might not know that you can get unlimited refills on hot drinks at ‘Spoons for just 99p.
“‘Spoons advertises it, but I don’t think a lot of people take advantage of it,” Robert said.
“It could be good for students wanting to study – you only have to 99p all day and you can top up your cup as much as you want.”
You have to swap your used cup for a clean one every time you want a refill.
Another Wetherspoons worker has revealed how the chain tries to make you buy more booze.
Other restaurants, pubs and shops have been forced to hike prices for customers due to rising business costs.
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