Wetherspoons pint prices to rise by 20p in DAYS as Tim Martin blames Labour Budget tax hikes

The Sun

07-05-2025

THE boss of Wetherspoons has warned the price of a pint will go up by 20p in the coming days as breweries are already pushing through hikes on the back of costs pressures from the Budget.
Sir Tim Martin said the government kept heaping pressure on pubs through higher taxes and costs.
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The pub industry had already faced demands for higher prices from breweries, which had increased their prices by around 7p per pint in the past week, he revealed.
"It means pints in pubs are going to go up by on average 15p to 20p this month", he said.
The British Beer and Pub Association recently warned that the price of a pint is expected to exceed the £5 mark, up from the current average of £4.80.
Breweries are reacting to increases in the National Living Wage and National Insurance contributions, which came into effect at the start of April.
The National Living Wage rose by 77p an hour to £12.21, while the rate of employer National Insurance contributions increased from 13.8% to 15%.
Plus, the threshold at which businesses begin paying this tax was reduced, dropping from £9,100 to £5,000 a year.
Sir Tim warned: "The risk to the country is people either in the UK or coming from abroad will thing that it's too expensive to set up a business in the UK."
The latest price hikes follow a similar move in January, when Wetherspoon told The Sun it had raised the prices of certain drinks and meal deals by up to 30p.
Despite rising costs, however, the pub chain boss remained confident that customers would stick with their favourite drinks.
Sir Tim said: "Guinness is pretty expensive but we are selling plenty of the stuff.
Why are so many pubs and bars closing?
"We have also introduced Jaipur ale, which is more pricey but doing very well.
"Our Stella also outsells Bud Light, which is cheaper."
The Wetherspoon boss confirmed he remains "very keen" on the idea of opening pubs overseas through the company's rapidly growing franchise business.
The pub giant already operates a few franchised pubs on university campuses and seven pubs within Haven Holiday parks.
"It's a good sign the holiday parks are doing very well so we think it will do well with people overseas, especially where Brits holiday."
Sir Tim added that he is "open to anything," including launching pubs in airports and campsites.
Wetherspoons revealed like-for-like sales had jumped 5.6% in the 13 weeks to April 27 this morning.
How can I 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 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.
What else is happening at Wetherspoons?
Despite rising cost pressures, Wetherspoon is set to open 15 brand-new pubs in the coming days, following a recent surge in sales.
Six locations already have confirmed opening dates, which The Sun can exclusively reveal.
Wetherspoon also announced that approximately nine more pubs are expected to open by July 2026.
First on the list is The Conister Arms in Douglas, Isle of Man, set to open on Wednesday, May 14.
Next is Walham Green at Fulham Broadway, South West London, opening on Tuesday, June 17.
The Dictum of Kenilworth in Warwickshire will follow, opening on Wednesday, July 30.
On Tuesday, August 26, The Sun Wharf on Tooley Street near London Bridge will welcome punters.
The King of Essex in Basildon is scheduled to open on Tuesday, September 23.
Finally, a new pub in Merchant Square, Paddington, is also set to open later this summer, though the exact date has yet to be confirmed.
Wetherspoon is also launching a new "gourmet" food range from May 14, adding exciting new burgers to its iconic menu.
Top of the list is The Big Smoke, a towering burger packed with pulled BBQ beef brisket, American-style cheese, and maple-cured bacon—offering a perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours.
For those who enjoy a bit of spice, the Buffalo Burger is sure to be a hit.
It features a crispy fried buttermilk chicken breast, tangy blue cheese, fiery naga chilli sauce, and melted American-style cheese.
Finally, cheese lovers can indulge in the Cheese Meltdown, a rich and creamy creation loaded with American-style cheese and topped with a blend of melted Emmental and Cheddar sauce.
Full list of new pubs on the way
WHETHERSPOONS is gearing up to open pubs in six brand-new locations, with the first set to welcome punters in just a few days.
The pub giant is also planning to launch an additional nine pubs over the next financial year.