PINT prices at Wetherspoons has hit a whopping £7.30 in London after the budget chain hiked prices for the second time in just six months.
Bosses have confirmed food and drink prices have been ratcheted up by almost 4% – after the previous rise last August.
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Last summer it was revealed pint prices had reached a hefty £7.09 for a Leffe lager in the chain’s Moon Under the Water branch in trendy Leicester Square.
And holidaymakers travelling from Gatwick, Edinburgh, Heathrow and Stanstead, were also having to fork out £7.10 for a Leffe. Airports prices have not increased.
Now researchers have spotted the price of some brews in trendy London outlets is now pushing through the £7 mark or sits just pennies under it.
Spoons fans at the Moon Under the Water will now pay £7.30 for a pint of Leffe, £7.09 for a pint of Mad Squirrel Big Sea West Coast IPA and £6.98 for a San Miguel or Windsor & Eton Treason West Coast IPA.
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Supping fans will also now have to shell out £6.88 for favourites including a pint of Stella Artois – up 20p on the old price of £6.68 – and £6.66 for a Guinness.
Wetherspoon’s regular, Spencer Thompson, 48, from Wallington, south London, said: “I feel like I’m being hit in the pocket every way I turn.
“Every penny counts these days with the cost-of-living crisis biting so this comes as a real blow for Wetherspoon’s lovers like me.”
Even fans of alcohol-free tipples are being asked to fork out more for popular tee-total brews.
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Pints of Stella Artois and Heineken, low alcohol BrewDog Punk and Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime are now being asked to cough up £4.21 a pint up from £4.09.
Elsewhere in the capital a pint of Leffe is £6.97 at the Victoria Station branch up 20p, while a Corona and a San Miguel come in at £6.63 up 19p and a Stella Artois is £6.52, also up 19p.
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In Edinburgh at The Booking Office a pint of Leffe Blonde is now £6.07 up 23p while a Corona, San Miguel and Staropramen are all on sale for £5.60 a rise of 21p. A Tennent’s is a high £5.34 a pint up 16p.
And a pint of Leffe Blonde at The Paramount in Manchester is now £5.20 up 20p while San Miguel and Corona are priced at £4.74 after an 18p increase.
Alcohol free options are priced at between £2.43 and £3.30 a pint having risen between 9p and 13p.
Prices vary depending on location meaning cheaper brews can still snapped up outside the big cities and tourist hotspots.
At The Swatters Carr in Middlesborough a pint of Leffe Blonde has gone up 17p but is still priced at just £4.45 while a pint of Worthington’s Creamflow is still a rock bottom £1.86.
Meanwhile, at The Thomas Sheraton in Stockton-on-Tees a pint of Leffe Blonde can be snapped up for £4.22 despite a 16p rise and a Corona and San Miguel are just £3.75 a pint – up 14p.
Martyn James, independent consumer champion, said: “It’s one of the signs of the booze price apocalypse when the Spoons hits up to £7.30 for a pint. But do not despair.
“As this research shows, if you want a bargain, you’re better off ditching the cities and tourist traps and heading out into the country for a nice pint and a chilled day out.”
How to save money at Wetherspoons
Free refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other. So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights. For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their locals located near universities with discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it. Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have taken to using social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Pub company J D Wetherspoon said: “Most prices in Wetherspoon pubs have increased by 3.95% from Thursday, February 1.
“Some prices have increased by less. Ruddles Bitter has increased by 1%. Bud Light lager, Stowford Press Cider and Doom Bar bitter have increased by 2%. Draught Pepsi has not increased.
“The average increase, across all bar and food products is 3%.”
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “Wetherspoon, like most pub companies, has seen some big increases in costs.
“We believe that our prices remain competitive, even after these changes.”
Last year the chain – which has 827 pubs across the UK – warned that it was putting dozens of its pubs up for sale.
Punters were gutted to find out locals such as The Percy Shaw in Halifax was closing down.
Taking to social media one person said: “Wow another bit of history gone.”
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While another added: “Sad times.”
We have a full list of Wetherspoons pubs that have shut for good and those that remain available to interested buyers.
