BUDGET pub chain Wetherspoon has hiked beer and grub prices by up to 7.5 per cent – hitting skint drinkers in the pocket.
The booze giant has slapped up to 29p on the price of a pint and 75p on meal deals amid soaring costs.
The rises come just days after the chain announced it was set to close 40 venues after footfall slumped after the pandemic.
Researchers for The Sun uncovered the price rises after visiting the chain’s Oxted Inn branch in Surrey. Prices vary across the country.
Favourite tipples are all up seven per cent with a pint of Carlsberg up from £2.39 to £2.57, Stella from £3.35 to £3.60 and Leffe from £3.85 to £4.14.
Popular meal deals have also soared at the chain’s 844 pubs and hotels across the country.
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In Oxted, fish and chips with an alcoholic drink is up from £9.90 to £10.65, while an 8oz sirloin steak with alcoholic drink has risen from £9.55 to £10.27.
Similarly an ultimate burger with pint of beer or ale has gone up from £9.85 to £10.65 and a chicken tikka masala with alcoholic drink has increased from £9.70 to £10.43.
A large breakfast is up from £5.90 to £6.34 and a cup of tea or coffee from £1.35 to £1.45.
Wetherspoons warned of future prices rises in its January trading update to investors.
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A spokesman for analysts Hargreaves Lansdown said: “We’re not surprised to see Wetherspoon put through some modest price rises.
“They won't be the only ones and JDW still offers punters some of the best value around.
“With energy prices going the right way this is better than the 15 to 20 per cent rises it warned about.
It’s the second time that the chain has hiked prices in less than a year.
In November, it upped costs in 15 central London pubs.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Wetherspoon has increased prices on food and drink by 7.5 per cent.
“We believe that our prices are still very competitive in all the locations that we trade, even after the increase.
“Most businesses in the hospitality industry have had to deal with big price increases in the past year or two.
“We have tried to keep our prices competitive, bearing in mind that customers have suffered from inflation too.
“The 7.5 per cent increase is less than the rate of inflation.”
See the list of rises
Tea and coffee – £1.35 to £1.45
Large breakfast – £5.90 to £6.34
Fish and Chips with alcoholic drink – £9.90 to £10.65
Ultimate burger with alcoholic drink – £9.85 to £10.59
6oz Burgers with alcoholic drink – £7.95 to £8.55
Steak club with alcoholic drink – – £9.55 to £10.27
Curry club with alcoholic drink – £8.55 to £9.19
Chicken Tikka Masala with alcoholic drink – £9.70 to £10.43
Bud Light – £2.10 – £2.26
Carlsberg – £2.39 – £2.57
Coors – £3.19 – £3.43
Carling – £3.19 – £3.43
Budweiser – £3.25 – £3.49
Stella – £3.35 – £3.60
Corona – £3.45 – £3.71
San Miguel – £3.45 – £3.71
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Leffe – £3.85 – £4.14
Guinness – £2.99 – £3.21
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