Kmflett's Blog

For anyone concerned I’m posting this as social history not because I’m typing it in my local Spoons while participating in the January sale.

The sale which runs until January 15th is part of Spoons history. I’ve had a look- the most reliable source for early Spoons history is CAMRA’s London Drinker magazine, because in the first decade and more nearly all Spoons were in London. However there is no reference to the sale possibly because the Dec/Jan issues of the magazine were combined and heavily skewed to Christmas.

Its reasonable to assume that the January sale was a feature at least from the mid 1990s. It invariably featured Youngers Scotch bitter on cask and the associated slogan ‘how low can we go’. It normally sold for 89p but during the sale could go as low as 59p a pint. It was drinkable, a true session beer.

The 2026 sale reflects changing times. Most of the discounts are on lo/no drinks and a selection of the food menu (which was not so heavily promoted in the 1990s).

Johnnie Walker Black whisky (plus mixer, not sure why you need one with Black but each to their own) is on offer. No lager is reduced and no cask is reduced. The only draught beer in the sale is Worthington Creamflow at 99, or Worthy as its known to those who drink it (which doesnt include me). Its possible with 800 pubs that it was the only beer that Spoons could do a deal on price and volume on.

Whatever else might be thought of Tim Martin when it comes to pubs he is an astute business person. The sale reflects what Spoons think will be the most attractive items to get people in their pubs during the first weeks of January when for many money is too tight to mention.