Map reveals postcode lottery for Wetherspoons prices – where does YOUR local rank?
PUNTERS at Wetherspoons are paying up to 130% more based on where they drink.
We compared prices of three top drinks – a pint of Carling, a pitcher of Blue Lagoon cocktail and a pint of Strongbow – at 179 Wetherspoons pubs across England.
Carling fans pay an £3.65 extra for a pint based on what pub they order at.
A pitcher of Blue Lagoon can be £8 more expensive, while a pint of Strongbow has a price difference of £2.75, depending on where you drink.
We found the cheapest pint of Carling you can get is at The Bell, in Amesbury, Wiltshire – where it costs £2.34.
At the other end of the scale, The Moon Under Water, in Westminster, London, is charging punters £5.99 for a pint of the same beer – a £3.65 jump.
Customers looking to get a cheap Strongbow should head to The Red Lion in Bedlington in Northumberland, where it costs just £2.25.
Meanwhile, the most expensive Spoons spot selling the cider is The Moon Under Water, Westminster, where it costs £5 – £2.75 more.
The price you pay for a Blue Lagoon cocktail also varies drastically depending on where you live.
We found the Robert Fitzharding in Bedminster, Bristol, selling it for £6.44.
But The Willow Walk in Victoria, Westminster, London was selling the same cocktail for £14.85 – £8.41 more.
We also found you could end up paying more for your favourite drink at pubs within just several miles of each other.
Punters paying for a pint of Carling at The Moon Under Water in Colindale, North West London, face a £2.63 charge at the pumps.
However, order the same drink at The Beaten Docket in Cricklewood, only four miles away, and the cost rises to £3.49 – an 86p difference.
Meanwhile, customers buying a Strongbow from The Butter Cross in Bingham, Nottinghamshire pay £2.54.
But punters after one at the Trent Bridge Inn in West Bridgford, around eight miles away, pay just £2.40 – a 14p difference.
A Wetherspoons spokesperson said: “Wetherspoon takes pride in offering its drinks and food at value for money prices at its pubs across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
“All prices for both drink and food are listed in the individual pubs.
“Wetherspoon is transparent about the fact that prices will vary in some areas; for example prices in central London will be higher than those in north Wales.
“This is, among other reasons, due to higher property prices and the running of the pubs.
“However, even in the locations where prices might be higher than in other Wetherspoon pubs, the prices are still good value and in many cases, lower than competing pubs.”
Customers looking to find out how much drinks cost at their local Wetherspoons branch can use the pub chain’s app.
It is free to download off of the Apple App Store or Google Play.
You just have to click the “Pub Finder” widget at the bottom of the screen and then click “Select your Pub”, then “Browse the Menu”.
MORE ON WETHERSPOONS
The Sun exclusively revealed at the start of the year Spoons had upped the price of a host of drinks and menu items across its pubs.
The chain bumped up prices on drinks by 15p while meal deals were increased by 30p.
Spoons also recently made a change to its food menu by introducing a £2.99 breakfast deal at 650 pubs.
Customers can now choose from a breakfast muffin or small breakfast with soft or hot drink from 8am to midday, with veggie options available.
Meanwhile, tea and toast, which comes with two slices and either jam or marmalade, costs £2.49.
The pub chain, headed by Tim Martin, has also added two new pints to pumps in recent weeks – 1664 Kronenbourg and Jaipur.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
PUB-GOERS love Wetherspoons for its competitive pricing and low-cost meals - but did you know there are more ways to save money?
Senior consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how.
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 local near universities, which offer 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 used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.