JD Wetherspoon will be making two changes in pubs across the UK this week, including cutting the price of all food and drink.
On Wednesday (September 17), the pub chain will be introducing a brand new menu item to pubs in England, Scotland, and Wales.
While on Thursday (September 18), all food and drink prices at Wetherspoon's pubs will be reduced by 7.5%.
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Wetherspoon's pubs cutting food and drink prices
Wetherspoon’s pubs will be cutting the price of food and drink by 7.5% on Thursday to mark Tax Equality Day (in Scotland, in line with Scottish licensing laws, prices will be reduced on food and non-alcoholic drinks only).
This price reduction aims to highlight the benefit a permanent VAT reduction would have on the hospitality industry.
All food and drinks in pubs are subject to 20 per cent VAT.
In comparison, supermarkets pay zero VAT on food and are able to use that saving to sell alcohol to customers at a discounted price.
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Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, said: “ The biggest threat to pubs and the hospitality industry in general is the vast disparity in tax treatment among pubs, restaurants and supermarkets.
“Supermarkets pay zero VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs, bars and restaurants pay 20 per cent.
“This tax benefit allows supermarkets to subsidise the selling price of beer.
“Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades, because of the tax disadvantages which they have with supermarkets.
“It doesn’t make sense for pubs and the hospitality industry to subsidise supermarkets.
“A VAT cut to 12.5 per cent is needed to ensure that pubs, bars and restaurants do not continue to close, but instead thrive, invest and create new jobs.
“Customers coming to Wetherspoon’s pubs on Thursday will find the price of their food and drinks to be lower than normal.
“We call on the chancellor to create tax equality.”
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Mr Martin’s plea for tax equality has been backed by three of the leading hospitality, pub and beer organisations:
- UK Hospitality
- British Beer and Pub Association
- Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
JD Wetherspoon to launch new menu item
JD Wetherspoon will also be launching a new menu item in select pubs this week.
The Spice Bag is already a hugely popular dish in Ireland, but from Wednesday, it will be available across Wetherspoon pubs in England, Scotland and Wales as well.
The meal features chicken strips, chicken breast bites, tossed in a salt and chilli Chinese-style spice mix with red onion, sliced chillies and coriander.
A Quorn ‘no chicken’ vegan option will also be available.
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Both meals are served with a choice of chips or coconut-flavour rice, and will be on sale for £8.99 (with a soft drink) or £10.52 (with an alcoholic drink) in the majority of pubs (some pubs will have lower prices).
Wetherspoon food development manager, Sarah Shaw, said: “We are always keen to offer our customers the widest range of meals.
“The Spice Bag has proven extremely popular with customers in our Republic of Ireland pubs and we are confident that it will also be well received by customers across our pubs in England, Scotland, Wales.”
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