WETHERSPOONS is known and loved for its cheap drinks – but how do they keep prices so low?
One insider has revealed all, digging the dirt on the pub‘s behind the scenes practices that mean YOU get a cheap pint.
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Nearly 900 JD Wetherspoon pubs are located across the UK, serving up food and drink at bargain prices – including its famous curry club.
The “Primark of pubs” was founded by Tim Martin in 1979 and has since become a national treasure on many a high street.
In a Channel 5 show, Wetherspoons: How Do They Do It?, the secrets behind the chain’s success have been revealed.
Speedy service
Former bartender Sophia Nasif told the explains that the most popular alcohol is put on a “speed rail” under the bar to offer easy access on busy nights.
This means employees can make the drink at the bar rather than having to check elsewhere for the correct bottle.
“Speed is important” said Sophia. “The faster you are the more you’re going to sell.”
Craig Henry, a former pub manager, said: “It’s about focusing on speed of service, that general turnaround is key.”
It’s a similar story in the kitchen, where meals are churned out using microwaves and deep fat fryers.
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Staff are told there is a 10 minute time target between taking an order to the food being delivered to the customer.
Precision pouring
Another way ‘Spoons saves money on booze is by being very careful about the amount of beer poured into each pint.
Every pint must have a 5% head and managers can apparently test this by weighing the beer.
Ex-staff members said they weigh the glass first and then they’re told by head office what the weight should be with the correct top size.
Drip trays are also emptied each night to get accurate account of wastage from each line.
“The minimum amount of waste equals the best profit,” said Craig.
Add ons
All drinkers will have experienced something known as upselling at a pub or restaurant at some point.
The money-making tactic used to be part of Wetherspoons’ official training strategy – although the chain has now ditched that method.
Former staff members revealed they would ask customers whether they’d prefer a double or single shot of spirit – in that order.
That is because saying “double” first encourages consumers to settle for the bigger, more expensive option.
Ex-employees also revealed they would suggest more expensive food items.
Or instead of asking “do you want any onion rings”, they would say “how many onion rings do you want?”.
Wetherspoon told the documentary that it ditched the strategy in 2015 and now does meal deals instead.
It also said it has discouraged the upselling of spirits for more than a decade.
Curry club “ping” meals
Wetherspoons’ meal club nights have earned the chain huge popularity.
There is a club day available every day of the week, such as Mexican Mondays, Tuesday Steak Club and Fish and Chip Friday.
“The Clubs were really popular and there was one available each day of the week,” said Craig.
But the most popular and well-known is the Thursday Curry Club, which has been around since 1997.
It offers value for money by selling pub grub classics at low prices – and the food is delivered frozen before being microwaved to cut cooking costs.
Price watch
Former staff members lifted the lid that they would be sent to check the prices offered by competitors in their local area.
Then each pub will try and keep it under the local average.
It’s why you’ll find price can vary from one Wetherspoons pub to another, depending on where you are in the UK.
And it can also set its own prices, rather than having them imposed by a brewery because its not owned or leased by one.
Owns its own pubs
Many rival pubs are owned by big brewers which charge pub landlords low rent on the condition they buy all their booze from them at set prices.
But Wetherspoons operates under a different model, and owns many of its own buildings, meaning pub bosses can buy from anyone they want.
And with the amount of beer Wetherspoons sells, everyone is keen to supply them, meaning management can strike good deals.
Just like shopping around when you’re doing your grocery shop, Wetherspoons can do the same and get the cheapest possible prices.
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