Whatever your feelings might be towards Wetherspoons, there’s no denying the pub chain is a staple of British culture. Budget-friendly and found in almost every corner of the country, you can always rely on good old ‘Spoons if you’re in the mood to sink a pint or two.
But you might be stumped next time you go to order, because the chain has just announced it will stop selling San Miguel. By the end of the month, punters will no longer be able to order a pint of the lager in Wetherspoons pubs.
There’s not much tea to spill so to speak, besides the fact that the 15 year partnership between Mahou San Miguel (MSM) and Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC), which us responsible for distributing the lager, will dissolve at the end of the year.
Named the nation’s favourite beer in a YouGov poll in October, San Miguel will be replaced by Poretti. Affordable as ever, it will cost less than £4 for a pint of the Italian lager in most Spoons pubs across the country.
Why is Wetherspoons stopping selling San Miguel?
Besides the end of MSM and CMBC’s partnership, last week the man behind ‘Spoons, Tim Martin, warned customers could expect to pay more for drinks following Labour’s October Budget. That’s despite Labour vowing a penny off every draft pint.
In London, a pint of San Miguel at Wetherspoons costs just under £7, so at £3.99 for a pint of Poretti, this might actually be one of the pub bosses' less controversial decisions.
How much is a pint of San Miguel in the UK?
Prices of pints across the country vary depending on the location, and it’s not surprising they cost more in the capital (earlier this year we reported that the £8 pint had arrived in London).
However the average price of a pint of San Miguel in the UK currently stands at £5.55.
What’s new with Wetherspoons
More than just pints and plates of food, ‘Spoons also provides pillows if you fancy an overnight stay. The chain is opening a brand new hotel in the historic seaside town of Southport and has also submitted plans for a pub in the old London Dungeon. And San Miguel isn’t the only thing leaving, a bunch of Spoons pubs are closing by the end of the year. Here’s a full list.
Here at Time Out, we know a thing or two about pubs. Check out our list of the 25 best pubs in the UK.
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