Wetherspoons reveals the impact of dropping steak on its financial results
In the middle of May 2025 the 800 strong pub chain Wetherspoons scrapped its steak menu (gammon also went) to considerable comment from Spoons regulars. They were replaced on the menu by a new series of gourmet burgers.
Spoons steaks were not particularly cheap- certainly above £10 but they were still more competitively priced than elsewhere. Spoons suggested that there was too much wastage as customers sent back steaks that had not been cooked to their liking.
As any meat eater who has looked at the price of steak in a supermarket recently will know the cost has increased significantly. Of the major supermarkets Aldi probably comes out best where an aged steak costs around £6.79.
Towards the end of May the UK’s largest pub company Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) published its results showing a 10.4% increase in profits.
However one notable concern was the cost of meat. CEO Phil Urban commented that higher food costs was a significant issue particularly steak. However Urban notes that M&B have a steak brand, Sizzling Pubs ‘so we’re not going to compromise on quality’
Therein lies the Wetherspoons steak conundrum. Either reduce the quality of steaks served or charge a price many won’t pay. Alternatively don’t sell them..
In its latest quarterly set of results covering the 14 weeks to November 2nd 2025, drinks sales were up 5.7% comfortably ahead of the sector. However food sales were up only 0.9%. The Times reports (6th November) that analysts (market specialists who provide financial commentary) think this reflects the impact of removing higher cost items like steak from the menu. In other words without steak people are not spending as much on food in Spoons.
Whether Spoons customers would pay the higher prices steaks would now sell at is a conundrum for Tim Martin. It’s something that continues to attract lots of comment on Spoons related social media sites
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