WETHERSPOONS has been slammed for charging MORE for its main course and drink meal deals than if customers ordered separately from the menu.
On its all-day menu, the pub chain offers diners the option to choose a main course, including pub classics like fish and chips or a classic burger, with a soft or alcoholic drink included in the price.
But The Sun has found that one menu combination is CHEAPER if you order the items outside of the deal.
For example, at The Rocket pub in Putney, London, Whitby breaded scampi and chips with an alcoholic drink costs £14.10.
But if customers ordered sides of breaded scampi, a small bowl of chips and mushy peas, along with a pint of Bud Light it would cost £11.26 – a total of £2.84 cheaper.
Even if you ordered the same items but got a large chips, it would be £1.34 cheaper.
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Customers could also be getting a smaller portion of food by opting for Wetherspoons’ meal deals, based on the menu’s calories.
A main of breaded scampi with chips and mushy peas is 1,214 calories, but ordering each option as a side instead would come to 1,314 calories.
After being contacted by The Sun, Wetherspoons said it had made a mistake with its pricing and promised to “immediately” lower the price of its scampi meal deal price at its Putney branch and review prices at other branches.
The cost of food and drink varies at different Wetherspoons pubs.
But The Sun found evidence of the price discrepancy at several Wetherspoons branches around the country, including in Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle.
Consumer expert Martyn James said: “Meal deal inflation is one of the most unfair rip-offs out there.
“Few people get the calculator out before choosing a meal, so price hiking like this could lead to thousands of pounds in unfair charges.”
He warned punters: “Don’t assume a bundled deal is a good deal.”
A JD Wetherspoon spokesperson admitted the chain had “made a mistake” with its pricing, and has pledged to lower its prices.
“We think scampi is an anomaly, whereby it is possible to achieve a better price with certain drinks such as Bud Light by ordering the items separately.
“We will immediately lower the Scampi meal deal price at Putney and review prices elsewhere,” they said.