The chief executive of Wetherspoon has reintroduced a menu item following a customer’s complaint about its removal.
Adam Gale, a Wetherspoon enthusiast, expressed disappointment when he discovered that the Rodboro Buildings pub in Guildford, Surrey, had removed tuna jacket potatoes from the menu. He directly addressed Tim Martin, the founder of Wetherspoon, pointing out that while other toppings like beans and cheese were still available, the tuna option was missing. The price for a jacket potato with a side salad and one filling at Rodboro Buildings ranged from £7.73 with a soft drink to £9.26 with an alcoholic beverage.
In response to Gale’s letter, Martin humorously mentioned his own food preferences but acknowledged the customer’s request and promptly reinstated the tuna filling. This decision aligns with Martin’s recent announcement that Wetherspoon will not raise food and drink prices in the upcoming months, despite a previous price increase in January.
Additionally, Martin criticized the tax regulations that impose a 20% VAT on pub food and drinks compared to zero VAT for supermarkets, emphasizing the need for tax equality. Wetherspoon also disclosed its plan to open 30 new pubs, generating 1,800 jobs, with half of these establishments to be managed by franchisees.
The upcoming pub openings include locations in various cities such as Edinburgh, Farnham, Basildon, Manchester, London, and Glasgow. Wetherspoon, currently operating 794 pubs, has expanded its business by opening new locations and selling existing ones.