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News.com.au
3 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Sydney pub slammed over ‘insane' price of steak special
A suburban Sydney pub has come under fire after a diner vented online about the price of a 'chef special' steak that they believed was 'taking the p*ss'. The customer took to the @r/foodies Reddit forum to share a photo of the menu at The Peakhurst, a premium pub in the St George Area, 25km southwest of the CBD. The pub's prime cut special was a 350g piece of Scotch Fillet with a Marble Score of 4+, which indicates a high-quality grade of beef. It's served with buttery mashed potato, roasted root vegetables and Cafe de Paris butter, and was priced at $90. $90 for a pub steak 'At my local, 90 bucks for a steak, not even a 'recommended for two' type thing,' the poster wrote to the forum. 'I don't mind paying a bit of coin at a hatted restaurant where you're getting the service and the ambience, but this is beyond taking the p*ss. I went with the gnocchi off the regular menu ($28).' They thought the pricing was particularly 'insane' considering the pub requires you to fetch your own cutlery. 'Ridiculous' Many commenters agreed, saying this was well above what they'd expect to pay for a pub chef's special. 'Pubs are getting pretty out there with prices, especially when you consider most of it is just meat/veg/veg,' one of the top comments read. 'Nothing that isn't shared should be $90,' another remarked. 'The pub special vs. a la carte is becoming stupid,' a third quipped. 'This is honestly ridiculous,' someone else commented, as others agreed it was a 'rip off'. However, others noted that 'It wouldn't be on the menu if it wasn't selling'. Pub responds to post A spokesman for The Peakhurst told that the venue seeks out high-quality suppliers for its monthly chef special steak. 'The producer of this cut of beef, Little Joe's, is a small farm, the animals are extremely well cared for, they have an extremely high marble score, and have won numerous awards for being some of the best beef in the world,' they said. 'And while people might be surprised to see a $90 steak in a pub, all pricing is done based on a Gross Profit (GP) Margin foruma. 'It's the cost of goods involved in producing that item. From that, you have GST to pay for, service staff to pay for, utilities, chefs, all your overheads – that all comes out from your GP, and that leaves you with your net profit. And everything is getting more and more expensive. 'We can't give away a product at less than the margins we need to keep our business open.' The spokesman acknowledged that while people come to pubs looking for value, there are four other cheaper steaks on the menu. 'If customers don't want a prime cut of beef, they can make a decision based on their own affordability,' they said. So, is this pricing really so out of order? A $90 steak special at a Peakhurst pub is objectively on the pricier side, considering it's generally considered a suburban, working-class suburb. It's also an outlier for any Sydney restaurant or pub, even in an affluent or gentrifying area. At Bistecca in Sydney's CBD, often hailed as the best steak restaurant in Sydney, steak costs $21 per 100 grams, meaning a 350g piece would be $73.50, well below The Peakhurst's $90. The Peakhurst's other four steaks, which range from 200-300g, average around $45.5, comparable to the prices at the most up-market pubs in Paddington, one of Sydney's most expensive suburbs, where the median house price is $3.5 million. At The Village Inn Paddington, a 250g steak is $42; at The Paddington, 250g is $45; and at the Paddo Inn, a 250g steak is $38. It's worth noting that beef pricing is surging in Australia at the moment, partly because of Donald Trump's crackdown on imports, with limited stock seeing prices soar. Costs have also gone through the roof for hospitality businesses recently. Nearly one in ten food service businesses closed in the past year amid rising rents, labour shortages, cost of labour and economic pressures, according to a recent report from CreditorWatch.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wetherspoons brings BACK iconic menu item months after it vanished from pubs across the UK
WETHERSPOONS is bringing back a legendary item at all 809 pubs months after it was axed. The bargain boozer has revealed that its chicken bites are going to be back on menus. 1 The £6.49 treats had been listed as "temporarily unavailable" since April. The 10 chicken bites also come complete with a portion of chips and a handful of condiments. A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson said: "Chicken bites are now available in all Wetherspoon pubs." The pub chain did not add why the popular item had been scratched in the first place. Revellers had for months questioned the whereabouts of the staple since it vanished. "It has been over one month without the chicken bites on the menu and I physically can't do this," one fan wrote on the Reddit group r/Wetherspoons. "Where have they gone?" Another wrote: "My beautiful, mouthwatering, crisped bites, that even the heavens have blessed with an angel's touch, where have you gone. "I suffer with agony and mourn every second without you in my spoons pub. "For real though, whats actually happened to them?? They're still on my local pub menus but they're never in stock." I went to the UK's biggest Wetherspoons with rooftop bar overlooking the beach The Sun Online has reached out to Wetherspoons for comment. What else is happening at Wetherspoons? Late last week, Spoons closed a beloved pub in Coventry. The Spon Gate in Coventry was a favourite among locals and closed for good on May 25. Two other Spoons still serve the city with The Flying Standard and The Early of Mercia remaining in operation. The Spon Gate was a favourite among locals though and was called the "best" city centre pub. Elsehwere, Spoons also launched a £2.99 breakfast deal in February, with customers able to get a breakfast muffin or small breakfast with soft or hot drink. There are also veggie options available, which is served between 8am and midday. 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.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wetherspoons confirms return of ‘mouthwatering' menu item that was quietly axed from pubs across UK
WETHERSPOONS has confirmed that a hugely popular menu item is finally back on menus nationwide — months after it mysteriously vanished from pubs across the UK. For weeks, customers were left scratching their heads as the dish quietly disappeared, with no official explanation. Now, the mystery has been solved — the £6.49 meal, which comes with 10 crispy chicken breast bites, golden chips, and a choice of dipping sauces, had been marked as 'temporarily unavailable' on digital and printed menus since around April. Its quiet disappearance left punters puzzled, with many turning to social media to express their frustration and confusion. One fan took to Reddit to vent: 'It has been over one month without the chicken bites on the menu and I physically can't do this. Where have they gone? 'My beautiful, mouthwatering, crisped bites, that even the heavens have blessed with an angel's touch, where have you gone. "I suffer with agony and mourn every second without you in my Spoons pub.' Another joked: 'Whatever it is give me a waiver to sign and give me those chicken bites.' Some customers said the dish still appeared on their local menus but was never actually in stock, leading to even more confusion. Now, Wetherspoon has confirmed that chicken bites have made a full return. A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson said: 'Chicken bites are now available in all Wetherspoon pubs.' The pub chain didn't give a reason for the disappearance, but fans are simply relieved to see the cult favourite back in action. Inside Wetherspoons huge new pub - it's a hidden gem 'off the beaten track' and has a major pricing difference Since the return was confirmed, customers have taken to X (formerly Twitter) to share their joy. One wrote: 'I am delighted to confirm that the iconic Wetherspoon chicken breast bites are back. Goodness knows what that was all about. "On the downside, I just ordered the last portion in the Brit, Plymouth, so don't rush down.' Another said: 'I love you, Wetherspoon chicken bites.' Others joked that their weekly pub routine is 'finally complete again.' The chicken bites have become a go-to option for customers looking for a quick and tasty bite — especially as part of Wetherspoon's value-for-money deals. The return comes as part of a broader menu refresh, with several other fan favourites also making a comeback. Other dishes back on the menu Customers have also spotted the return of other missing items, including salt and pepper squid, Southern-fried chicken strips, and the vegetarian roasted vegetable lasagne — all of which had been quietly dropped over the last year. Some breakfast classics are also back, such as the large breakfast wrap and black pudding, which had been removed during previous menu cuts. The return of these items has been welcomed by regulars who were left disappointed when their go-to orders disappeared without warning. But not everything's coming back Despite the excitement around returning items, Wetherspoon has confirmed that some dishes are gone for good. On May 14, steaks, mixed grills, and gammon were officially removed from the menu and will not be making a return. The move sparked a wave of backlash from long-time Spoons lovers who saw the grill range as a staple part of the menu. JD Wetherspoon said the decision was part of a 'streamlining' of its food offering to focus on more popular and faster-serving dishes. While the loss of the grill range has been a blow to some, the return of chicken bites and other customer favourites has helped soften the disappointment. 2
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wetherspoons is launching THREE new meal deals in days at hundreds of pubs with prices starting from £3
WETHERSPOONS is launching three new meal deals in days at hundreds of pubs and prices start from £3. The giant pub chain is shaking up its Club deals from June 23, offering customers a range of discounted food and drink. 1 It will launch a new small plates deal on Mondays with punters able to get three items for £10 at 610 pubs - around £3 per plate. The same deal will cost £12 at 159 other pubs. Customers can choose from 20 small-plated dishes, including 10 spicy chicken wings, halloumi-style fries and an 8" Margherita pizza. On Tuesdays, a new beer and burger deal is launching across 604 pubs. Customers can get a burger with soft drink for £8.46 or burger with alcoholic drink for £9.99. Burgers included in the deal are The Big Smoke, Buffalo and Cheese Meltdown, with all served with chips and six onion rings. A new Wednesday Pizza Club is also being unveiled by Spoons from June 23, with a range of 11" pizzas available. Punters can get a pizza with soft or alcoholic drink for £6.96 and £8.49, respectively. Wetherspoons said the new Pizza Club will be available across 520 pubs. Meanwhile, the pub chain is also shaking up its Ale Wednesday Club deal meaning customers can now get pints from £1.49 from Monday to Wednesday across 651 pubs. The UK's 5 most beautiful Wetherspoons pubs The existing Thursday Curry Club and Afternoon Deal promo, which runs Monday to Friday from 2pm to 5pm, will also still be available to customers. We have asked Wetherspoons if its existing Tuesday Steak Club and Fish Friday deals are also staying and will update this story when we have heard back. Tim Martin, Wetherspoon's founder and chairman, said: 'We believe that customers will welcome the pubs' new and existing value-for-money club deals." Bear in mind, the prices listed above might not be what you pay in your local Spoons as they can vary from branch to branch. You can find your nearest branch via the free-to-download app or via OTHER SPOONS NEWS Spoons is bringing back The Brunch Burger for the Father's Day weekend, from Friday to Sunday. It returned two years ago after a ten-year hiatus and was a fan favourite at the time with punters calling it "legendary". Last month, Spoons also closed a beloved pub in Coventry - The Spon Gate. Elsewhere, Spoons also launched a £2.99 breakfast deal in February, with customers able to get a breakfast muffin or small breakfast with soft or hot drink. There are also veggie options available, which are served between 8am and midday. The Sun also exclusively revealed in January Spoons had upped the price of a host of popular drinks and menu items across its pubs. The chain bumped up prices on drinks by 15p while meal deals were increased by 30p. The price rises saw the cost of a Guinness at the London and South Western branch in south west London go from £4.66 to £4.81. Meanwhile, the price of a Strongbow increased from £3.24 to £3.39. .
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Jeremy Clarkson fans divided after pub visitor shares receipt for Sunday roasts at The Farmer's Dog
He's been taking a hard line on moaning diners lately, going so far as to ban one from his pub when they complained about high prices. And now a string of Jeremy Clarkson fans have risked igniting the wrath of their hero as they took to Facebook to pick apart another customer's receipt. Joanna Teresa, a visitor to The Farmer's Dog in Asthall, Oxfordshire posted a picture of her bill to the social media site after a Sunday lunch at the establishment on June 8. The hearty family meal out came to £174.04 including five roasts, some drinks, sides and a service charge. Bravely defending the price of her feast at The Farmer's Dog, the customer gushed about her culinary experience once she had made it into the packed pub. 'Went to the farmers dog yesterday, what a lovely experience,' she said. 'Very busy but once we were in the pub for our meal it was a relaxed atmosphere, the food was delicious staff were brilliant. 'Great price for 6 roast dinners & drinks. Highly recommend.' Joanna coughed up £24 for a roast beef dinner, with those looking to tuck in to a beef and pork medley required to part with £26. A portion of honey and mustard chipolatas cost £5 while an extra Yorkshire pudding added £1.50 onto the bill. When it came to drinks, Clarkson's Hawkstone Premium lager were priced at £7 per pint - Joanna's group indulged in two of these - while a medium glass of white wine set the group back another tenner. Fizzy drinks and apple juice were £3.40 each, bringing the total to £154.70 before a 12.5 per cent service charge was slapped on. Fans were left bitterly split when an inevitable debate over the pub's prices kicked off, with a group of critics picking holes in the receipt. One said: 'Why add a service charge. You can't get your food unless they serve it and walking from kitchen to table is the same whether cost of food is £10 or £100. Why can't restaurants just price the food including their overheads?' Another added: '£7 for a pint is a bit excessive.' A third posted: 'Looks great but £24 for a Sunday lunch should include the Yorkshire pud.' Fans were left bitterly split when an inevitable debate over the pub's prices kicked off, with a group of critics picking holes in the receipt Another said: 'Your having a laugh if you think paying £24 just for a roast beef is value fk that I won't be visiting any time soon at them prices.' And a fifth added: 'My wife's serves up better portions than that! Looks average at best.' But a rebel group of Facebook users boldly backed Clarkson and the prices at his farm pub. One follower posted: 'Six drinks and six meals. Not bad price.' Another said: 'You guys moaning about the price - don't go, its not compulsory geez.' One added: 'A lot of whinging going on here…Geee you lot better not come to Australia, that's cheap.' A fourth posted: 'It's the whole experience you're paying for So really it's Great Value.' And another user said: 'You're paying a bit extra to help British farming and support British produce, that's fine by me.' But a rebel group of Facebook users boldly backed Clarkson and the prices at his farm pub A sign near the bar of The Farmer's Dog makes it clear that the establishment is '100% British', meaning it is teeming with fresh local produce but there is no Coca-Cola or lemonade available. It comes after Clarkson banned a customer from his pub for complaining about the high prices on his menu - and it's not for the first time. Fellow names on the exile list from The Farmers Dog in Asthall, Oxfordshire include Keir Starmer, James May, and Richard Hammond. But the most recent customer to incur the wrath of the former Top Gear presenter, 64, is not quite as famous. The spat occurred after one visitor accused the TV presenter of not caring about his customers. They took to X to share their shock at paying £24 for a pie and vegetables and wrote: 'Thought @JeremyClarkson wanted an affordable pub for customers. £24 for pie and veg is a bit much.' And another X user piled on, claiming they couldn't wait for cheaper US cuts of beef to bring down the price. They wrote: 'Dead weight for British beef is far too expensive £6.89/kg for R4L down from the record high £6.98/kg earlier in the month. 'I can't wait till we get US beef cuts here because British beef industry is now taking the piss at those prices.' And the suggestion didn't go down well with the Clarkson's Farm show host who simply wrote: 'You are now banned from the pub.' Since it opened last summer, Clarkson has made sure to only use British products in his meals but his approach has not always gone down well with customers. Earlier this year visitors revealed they were unimpressed after noticing several items, including ketchup and Coca-Cola, were missing from the menu. Because Clarkson's pub only uses Great Britain's produce to support British farmers - some common condiments aren't on offer. Clarkson's reluctance to make any small exceptions to the rule means he loses £10 for every customer who eats at his restaurant, as home-grown products are much more expensive. He said in a column for The Times: 'Now, a business-minded person would look at these costs and realise that with British-only rules in place, a hotdog was going be priced at about £45. 'But I'm not a business-minded person. So I just filled my heart with hope, asked an AI program to work out what the average price of lunch in a Cotswolds pub is and just charged that. 'It's possible that for every customer who comes through the door I'd lose about £10.' Prices for a main meal at the picturesque pub start at £20 for Wye Valley asparagus and garden pea Pearl barley. For a steak pie, masked potato, carrots, seasonal greens and gravy, customers have to fork out £24 and for sausage and mash, it'll set them back £21. The soup of the day starter with sourdough bread and butter costs £8.50 while the ham hock terrine costs an eye-brow raising £11. But the prices don't seem to have put customers off and it seems locals and tourists alike are flocking to The Farmer's Dog - at the expense of other local boozers. Earlier this year it was revealed that a historic country pub in the nearby village is up for sale after their business dropped dramatically. The Three Horseshoes has been serving the quaint Cotswolds community since the 18th century - but since Clarkson's latest venture just a mile away has proved the more popular.
