PINT prices at Wetherspoon’s have soared to as much as £7.40 in airport branches after the budget chain hiked prices yet again.
Airport rates have jumped by up to 30p a pint – or as much as 4% – with summer getaway travellers being hit the pocket again.
In February travellers at Gatwick, Edinburgh, Heathrow and Stansted were paying £7.10 for a pint of Leffe lager.
But just five months later Wetherspoon’s chiefs are now asking £7.40 for a pint of the same Belgium brew – after prices were quietly raised earlier this year ahead of the summer rush.
Several other beers have also pushed through the £7 mark including Brewdog Punk IPA and Innis & Gunn Lager (Edinburgh only), which are both now on sale at a hefty £7.05.
The price hikes – which cover booze and food – come just two weeks after we revealed airport drop-off charges have been hiked as high as £7 for a stay of just 15 minutes.
Burger dishes at airports such as Gatwick can now cost as much as £15.55 with gourmet options as high as £16.65, while an 11″ spicy meat feast pizza will set you back a hefty £16.55.
Wetherspoon’s regular, Kev McMahon, 46, from Waltham Abbey, Herts, said: “We scrimped and saved to afford a holiday so to be hit in the pocket with these soaring pint prices at the airport is a real kick in the teeth.
“Hopefully things will be cheaper when we get abroad because they’re certainly not here.”
And fellow ‘Spoons fan Rebecca Lockwood, 44, from Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, added: “You used to be guaranteed a bargain beer when you went to a ‘Spoons – even at the airport – but it seems that’s all a thing of the past now.”
In February we revealed ‘Spoons bosses had previously hiked prices at high street outlets by as much as 4%.
But so far, prices on the high street have not been ratcheted up again this year.
At the Moon Under the Water in London’s swanky Leicester Square prices have been frozen since February.
The theatre district outlet charges £7.30 for a pint of Leffe, £7.09 for a pint of Mad Squirrel Big Sea West Coast IPA and £6.98 for a San Miguel or Windsor & Eton Treason West Coast IPA.
A pint of Stella Artois remains £6.88 and a Guinness will set you back £6.66.
Pints of non-alcoholic versions of Stella Artois, Heineken, low alcohol BrewDog Punk and Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime all are unchanged at £4.21 a pint.
Elsewhere in the capital a pint of Leffe remains £6.97 at the Victoria Station branch while a Corona and a San Miguel are £6.63 and a Stella Artois is £6.52.
In Edinburgh at The Booking Office in the city’s Waverley train station a pint of Leffe Blonde stays at £6.07 while a Corona, San Miguel and Staropramen remain at £5.60.
A pint of Leffe Blonde at The Paramount in Manchester is still £5.20 while San Miguel and Corona all remain £4.74.
Prices vary depending on location meaning cheaper brews can still be snapped up outside the big cities and tourist hotspots.
At The Swatters Carr in Middlesborough a pint of Leffe Blonde can be sunk for a bargain £4.45 while a pint of Worthington’s Creamflow is still a rock bottom £1.86.
Meanwhile, at The Thomas Sheraton in Stockton-on-Tees a pint of Leffe Blonde can still be snapped up for £4.22 and a Corona and San Miguel are just £3.75 a pint.
WETHERSPOONS is known for its low prices, but there are ways to spend even more money at the chain.
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.
Wetherspoons is known for its meal deal offers that run all week long.
These include Tuesday’s Steak Club, Thursday’s Curry Club and Fish Friday.
For example, a standard curry club meal with an alcoholic drink is between £8.55 and £9.19.
Outside of the deal, you would expect to pay around a fiver more for the same meal.
You can enjoy bottomless brews all day in participating Wetherspoons pubs by buying one hot drink.
The offer includes Tetley tea and a range of Lavazza coffee including a flat white, latte, cappuccino, and Americano.
Prices start from just 99p but they can vary depending on your location.
Last night critics lambasted the airport price surges.
Martyn James, independent consumer champion, said: “For many people, a cheeky pint at the airport marks the very beginning of your hard earned holiday.
“Yet a nasty surprise awaits holidaymakers airside as pints hit London prices.
“Bars need to remember that just because we’re a captive audience at the airport, we won’t forget blatant overcharging.”
Sarah Coles, Head of Personal Finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “For those who fancy a quick drink to celebrate the start of their holiday, this is yet another hefty price to pay for your trip this year.
“Inflation has been cooling off in recent months, and has finally hit the 2% target. However, that doesn’t stop price hikes in the airports as the summer holiday season heats up.
“Airports are still wrestling with rising staff costs, as wages continue to rise. They’re not alone in this, because the whole hospitality sector is facing this challenge, which is one reason why inflation in restaurants and cafes is up 5.9% in a year.
“For some people, this could tip the balance as to whether paying for an airport lounge is worth the outlay – particularly if you think there’s a risk of a delay.
“It’s worth pricing up the cheapest offer in the lounges to see whether rising prices in your airport mean you’re better off paying a lump sum for the luxury of free food and drink until you fly.”
Wetherspoon’s said: “Prices of food and drinks increased by approximately 4% at Wetherspoon pubs on 1 February, 2024. “Airport prices rose by the same percentage, slightly later, on 20 March, 2024.”
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