JD Wetherspoon launches January sale offering a pint for 99p

JD Wetherspoon has launched a January sale offering a selection of beers, spirits and soft drinks for as little as 99p.

The pub chain launched the sale today (3 January) and it will run for two weeks across all 810 of its UK venues.

Across 560 pubs a pint of Ruddles Best will be available for 99p (this is priced at £1.10 in Scotland and Wales due to licensing rules). A 25ml measure of Bell's whisky with a mixer will be offered at the same price as will a bottle of Beck's or Beck's blue.

An extensive range of beers, ciders and spirits have also been discounted along with food.

The sale has been launched as the hospitality industry faces the prospect of declining consumer confidence due to the cost-of-living crisis, combined with escalating food and energy prices.

JD Wetherspoon reported a pre-tax loss of £30.4m in the 53 weeks to 31 July 2022 and chairman Tim Martin said pubs faced a "momentous challenge" to attract back customers who had "filled their fridges" with cheaper supermarket beer during lockdown.

He added that recovery from the pandemic had been "painstakingly slow" alongside a "great inflation" of costs.

The company recently put 39 pubs up for sale which are largely within a close radius to other Wetherspoon sites. It said this was part of a long-term strategy rather than a reaction to difficulties arising from the pandemic.

It also confirmed at the end of last year that it would close a further three sites.

Announcing the launch of the January sale Martin said: "Department stores and shops hold their sales in January, so it is the perfect time to have a sale in the pub too.

"The range of drinks and food on sale in the pub is aimed at suiting a wide variety of tastes. This year we have included our biggest selection of low and non-alcoholic drinks.

"I believe that the January sale will prove popular with our customers. As always, staff at the pub will serve customers responsibly."