Wetherspoons hike drink prices on 'Super Saturday' as pubs reopen in England

Ellena Cruse4 July 2020

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has hiked the price of drinks as pubs reopened across England on "Super Saturday".

The cost of beers, spirits and wine will be increased by 10p on July 4, the company's spokesman confirmed.

Customers hoping to line their stomachs will also be affected and the cost of food will increase by 20p.

It comes as Welsh people hoping for a pint have been banned from heading over to England if they live more than five miles away from the border during lockdown.

Speaking to The Sun, Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Prices will go up on beer, spirits and wine, by approximately 10p a serving and by approximately 20p on a meal.

“All we can say in this area is that we try to keep prices as competitive as possible. From time to time there will be price rises but we always try and minimise them.

Andrew Slawinaki, 51, is served a pint of Guinness at the reopening The Toll Gate, a Wetherspoons pub in Hornsey
PA

“Even with price rises, the entire pub industry, including Wetherspoon, will be less profitable than before pubs closed, because costs will be so much higher.”

The biggest Wetherspoons reopening is the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate, Kent.

The Grade II listed Victorian building, measuring nearly 11,000 square feet, reopened at 8am on Saturday.

Manager Chris Whitbourn, speaking ahead of the opening said: “We have spent a number of weeks consulting with staff who work in our pubs, as well as area managers in order to draw up our plans.

Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate measuring nearly 11,000 square feet is reopening to punters
PA

“The safety of staff and customers is paramount.”

JD Wetherspoon says dedicated staff will monitor the pub at all times in order to maintain social distancing standards and there will be a member of staff on the door at peak times.

“Contact points” such as door handles and card payment machines will be sanitised during opening hours, and customers will be asked to order and pay via an app where possible.

Staff will hand over all drinks holding the base of the glass and when ordered by the app they will be delivered to the table on a tray and placed on the table using the base of the glass.

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