WETHERSPOONS is now charging almost £7 a pint in some branches hitting booze fans in the pocket.
It comes after The Sun revealed the pub chain had hiked beer and grub prices by up to 7.5% – slapping up to 29p on the price of a pint and 75p on meal deals.
But now fresh Sun research has found soaring inflation of up to 11% means drinkers are now paying almost £7 a pop for their favourite tipple at some of Wetherspoons' 842 pubs.
In London’s trendy Leicester Square the chain’s Moon Under the Water branch charges an eye-watering £6.85 for a pint of Belgian abbey style beer, Leffe Blonde.
The pricey outlet close to London’s theatre district also charges a whopping £6.55 for a pint of San Miguel, Corona and BrewDog IPA.
Other central London branches can be just as draining on drinkers’ wallets.
At the chain’s Victoria station branch and at Penderal’s Oak in High Holborn, a pint of Leffe Blonde will set you back £6.15.
Similarly, branches at Gatwick Airport in Sussex and Heathrow Airport also charge £6.85 for a pint of Leffe and over £6 a pop for staple tipples including Stella Artois, San Miguel, Guinness and Carling.
But bargains are still available in other regions around the UK.
At The Resolution in Middlesborough and the Sir John Stirling Maxwell in Glasgow punters can sup on a pint of Leffe for just £4.03.
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And if they switch to cheaper tipples they can enjoy a pint of Worthington’s Creamflow for just £1.89 at The Resolution and £2.03 at the Sir John Stirling in Glasgow.
Cider fans can also enjoy a cheap tipple if they shop around.
A pint of Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider at The Resolution in Middlesborough, the Sir John Stirling Maxwell in Glasgow and the Three John Scotts, Hull, will set you back just £2.26.
Pints of Carling can be snapped up for £2.68 at The Resolution, £2.78 at the Sir John Stirling Maxwell and £3 at the Three John Scotts in Hull.
Guinness is the cheapest in Middlesbrough at just £3 and £3.21 in Glasgow.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Our aim is to offer competitive prices in which we trade.
“Prices are higher in Leicester Square and airports as rent and rates are much higher.
“For example, rent and rates are more than one million pounds per annum in our Leicester Square pub even though it is approximately half the size of the average Wetherspoon.
“In general, prices are lower in small towns and suburbs than in major city centres or airports.”
Pub price rise warning
Rising wages, energy prices and other costs are being blamed for the hikes – with prices first hitting £7 at several independent high street boozers early last year.
Consumer experts warned the advent of the £7 Wetherspoon’s pint is a sign of Britain’s ongoing battle against inflation.
New official figures out today revealed inflation is still running at 10.1%
That's down for the third month in a row, but prices are still rising, just at a slower rate.
Martyn James, independent consumer champion and The Sun Squeeze Team expert, said: “It's not just in London where drinkers are taking a sharp intake of breath.
“All around the UK, people are telling me that pints are hitting the £7 point.
“Wetherspoon’s is known for it's budget range. The price of a pint in the ‘Spoons is one of the clearest measures of inflation and it's impact around the UK."
The price of a pint at Wetherspoons can vary depending on where you are, and from one branch to the next.
You can find your nearest one using the Wetherspoons website's pub finder tool.
The Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) National Chairman Nik Antona said many pubs and breweries have no choice but to raise prices to stay open.
He said: “We'd urge businesses to keep prices rises to a minimum where possible to encourage people to keep supporting their locals.
“We are also calling on the Government to cut tax charged on draught beer and cider by 20% to help our locals compete with the likes of supermarket alcohol by cutting the cost of a pint at the bar for customers."
Pub chain Revolution revealed last month that it will close some of its bars on Monday and Tuesday to save cash.
Experts have warned that thousands of pubs could be forced to do the same and reduce their opening hours because of soaring energy bills.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance and podcast host for Switch Your Money On at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Londoners are used to paying through the nose for a pricey pint, but they may have thought they’d be safe from the seven quid pint in Wetherspoon’s.
“On the plus side, to get close to this level means drinking a particularly posh beer in Theatreland, so you could opt for a more affordable brand, and quench your thirst for a smidge over £6.50.
“For commuters, the answer may be to take the train home, and have a drink when you get further out of town.
“The good news for anyone living outside the capital is that the spectre of the £7 ‘Spoon’s pint remains a far more distant threat.
“There are some places where you can still buy a pint for less than £2 – the kind of bargain booze that those in the capital would struggle to track down even during Happy Hour.”
How do Wetherspoons prices compare at different pubs?
Moon Under The Water – Leicester Square
- Leffe Blonde – £6.85
- Corona – £6.55
- Stella Artois – £6.45
- San Miguel – £6.55
- Guinness – £6.25
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £6.55
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £6.25
- Carling – £5.89
The Crown Rivers – Heathrow Airport
- Leffe Blonde – £6.85
- Corona – £6.25
- Stella Artois – £6.25
- San Miguel – £6.25
- Guinness – £6.10
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £6.55
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £6.20
- Carling – £6.10
The Beehive – Gatwick Airport
- Leffe Blonde – £6.85
- Corona – £6.25
- Stella Artois – £6.25
- San Miguel – £6.25
- Guinness – £6.10
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £6.55
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £6.20
- Carling – £6.05
Victoria Station, London
- Leffe Blonde – £6.15
- Corona – £5.85
- Stella Artois – £5.75
- San Miguel – £5.85
- Guinness – £5.55
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £5.85
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £5.75
- Carling – £5.29
Penderal’s Oak – High Holborn, London
- Leffe Blonde – £6.15
- Corona – £5.85
- Stella Artois – £5.75
- San Miguel – £5.85
- Guinness – £5.55
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £5.85
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £5.75
- Carling – £5.29
- Leffe Blonde – £6.15
- Corona – £5.85
- Stella Artois – £5.75
- San Miguel – £5.85
- Guinness – £5.55
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £5.85
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £5.75
- Carling – £5.29
The Resolution, Middlesbrough
- Leffe Blonde – £4.03
- Corona – £3.60
- Stella Artois – £3.49
- San Miguel – £3.60
- Guinness – £3
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £3.60
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £2.26
- Carling – £2.68
- Worthington’s Creamflow – £1.89
Sir John Stirling Maxwell, Glasgow
- Leffe Blonde – £4.03
- Corona – £3.64
- Stella Artois – £3.60
- San Miguel – £3.64
- Guinness – £3.21
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £3.64
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £2.26
- Carling – £2.78
- Worthington’s Creamflow – £2.03
The Mount Stuart, Cardiff
- Leffe Blonde – £5.04
- Corona – £4.68
- Stella Artois – £4.57
- San Miguel – £4.68
- Guinness – £3.75
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £4.68
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £2.78
- Carling – £4.07
- Worthington’s Creamflow – £2.78
The Albert and The Lion, Blackpool
- Leffe Blonde – £4.78
- Corona – £4.35
- Stella Artois – £4.25
- San Miguel – £4.35
- Guinness – £3.75
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £4.35
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £2.78
- Carling – £4.07
- Worthington’s Creamflow – £2.78
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The Three John Scotts, Hull
- Leffe Blonde – £4.14
- Corona – £3.71
- Stella Artois – £3.60
- San Miguel – £3.71
- Guinness – £3.75
- BrewDog Punk IPA – £3.71
- Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime Cider – £2.26
- Carling – £3
- Worthington’s Creamflow – £2.03
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