Wetherspoons increases cost of popular beers - as prices rise by 3% on average across its food and drinks offerings

• JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin says he believes ‘prices remain competitive’
• READ MORE: We visited every JD Wetherspoon pub in Britain – and noticed that one thing is different in every single boozer

Budget UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon has announced price rises of an average of 3% on its food and drink products amid rising costs – despite recording an overall rise of 10.1% in sales compared to the previous year in its most recent report.

The company, owned by Sir Tim Martin, released a statement confirming increases in the cost of food and drink at its 814 sites across the UK.

The statement said the mean average price increase is 3% but the median average is 3.95%.

However it also confirmed lower rises in some products – for example a 2% rise in beers including Bud Light and Doom Bar.

Sir Tim put the product increases down to rising costs of operating – having previously noted labour costs in the hospitality industry.

Much-loved UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon has announced price rises across its menu at an average of 3%

He explained labour costs in pubs accounted for about 30% of sales – whereas in retail the cost of labour represented closer to 10% of sales.

The Caterer reports JD Wetherspoon’s owner used his January trading update to draw attention to difficult trading conditions in hospitality, despite like-for-like sales being up 10% on the previous year.

‘The inevitable consequence is that increased labour costs raise the differential in prices between the hospitality industry and supermarkets. At the same time, pubs pay far higher VAT and business rates than supermarkets, further exacerbating the price disparity,’ he said.

Addressing the price hikes of food and drink in the pub chain, he said: ‘Wetherspoon, like most pub companies, has seen some big increases in costs. We believe that our prices remain competitive, even after these changes.’

The rises come after the month of January saw Tim Martin slashing prices of both food and drink at the pub chain’s 814 sites – meaning punters could buy a pint of Doom Bar for just £1.99.

Meanwhile cocktails including a strawberry daquiri, a margarita and an espresso martini were just £2.99.

The January Sale, which ran from January 2-17, also saw food and soft drinks reduced in price, with coffee, hot chocolate and tea coming in at £1.29 including free refills.

Meanwhile the small breakfast plate with bacon, sausage, fried egg, baked beans and toast cost just £1.99 and a burger and soft drink was just under a fiver.

Last month, fans of the cheap pub chain criticised its three small plates meal deal which was once marketed for £10 – as it rose by almost twice the price in some UK sites.

One Wetherspoons customer posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, complaining that the deal, which offers customers their pick of three dishes from a large range of items on the menu including Nachos and small pizzas, cost £17.75 at a branch in Manchester.

At other loctions, such as Holborn in Central London, prices are even higher at £18.09 for three small plates.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the price of food and non-alcoholic beverages has risen by approximately 21 per cent between November 2021 and November 2023. It’s a staggering statistic when compared to the decade between 2011 and 2021, during which prices rose 10 per cent.

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