JD Wetherspoon announces major change to popular breakfast service

Wetherspoon’s pubs across the country have announced a major change to their breakfast timings.

From Friday, the budget-friendly franchise will offer their breakfast service until 12pm every day of the week.

The change will give diners an additional 30 minutes in which to order their morning favourites.

It follows Wetherspoon’s recent announcement it would slash prices for a number of menu items until January 17, with drinks starting at 99p.

It comes despite news of slowing sales for the chain in the final quarter of 2022, with like-for-like sales dropping 1.1% in the five weeks to November 6 when compared with pre-pandemic trading in 2019.

At the time, it said trading was “broadly” in line with its expectations but that October had been a slower month.

“Costs, especially in respect of labour, food and repairs, were substantially higher” in the first quarter, the group added.

Pubs across the UK have been knocked by a cocktail of cost increases as inflation sends prices soaring, staff demanding higher wages and waning demand among cash-strapped pub goers.

A 2022 survey found that 51% of people are content with box sets, video games and board games instead of a night at the pub due to tightening budgets.

Almost a third said they were also considering the necessity of every single purchase they made.

Bars and restaurants also faced financial threats by spiralling costs and a lack of Christmas parties recently, amid rising energy bills and inflation.

UK Hospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson told STV News at the time that some venues had decided to not offer Christmas parties.

That left businesses facing a third consecutive festive wipeout after Covid lockdown rules prevented gatherings in 2020 and 2021.