Diners at popular restaurants and pubs in Britain have endured price increases of up to 20 percent in recent months as bosses continue to feel the pressure on costs.
Chains like McDonald’s and Wetherspoon have increased their prices in recent months, while others like Zizzi and Nando’s have also gone up since last year.
McDonald’s increased its chicken mayonnaise burger by 20 per cent, from 99 pence to £1.19 last month, while the bacon double cheeseburger rose 8 per cent, from £2.49 to £2, 69.
Meanwhile, analysis of a Wetherspoon’s pub in Surrey found its offer of ‘Ultimate Burger’ with an alcoholic drink rose from £9.85 to £10.59 last month, an 8 per cent increase.
At Nando’s, a quarter chicken with two sides is up 14 per cent in a year, from £8.75 to £9.95; while half chicken with garnishes is up 8% from £12.45 to £13.50.
Also, a 330ml bottle of Freedom Pills beer at the chain is up 8 per cent from £3.95 to £4.25, and a bottomless Coke is now £3.60, up 3 per cent. that £3.50.
And Italian chain Zizzi has also increased the prices of its spaghetti with chorizo carbonara and its chicken and prosciutto salad by 5 and 3 per cent respectively, both to £14.95.
Also at Zizzi, a 500ml bottle of Peroni Gran Riserva beer is up 3 per cent to £6.95 and a bottle of Cara Viva Medium Dry wine is up 18 per cent to £17.30.
Official government data revealed today that the annual inflation rate for restaurants and cafeterias was 11.4% in February 2023, up from 9.4% in January, the highest since 1991.
The Office for National Statistics pointed to the skyrocketing cost of alcoholic drinks in pubs and restaurants as prices rose after discounts were imposed in January, often a difficult time of year for people to go out after Christmas.
More generally, the ONS said the annual inflation rate for restaurants and hotels was 12.1 percent in February 2023, up from 10.8 percent in January, and the highest rate since the summer of 1991. .
As for McDonald’s, it also raised prices last month on its bacon double cheeseburger from £2.49 to £2.69 (an 8 per cent increase); triple cheeseburger from £2.69 to £2.89 (up 7 per cent) and medium soda drink from £1.39 to £1.49 (up 7 per cent).
That comes after the fast food chain increased prices from 10p to 20p on many items last July, most notably with its lone cheeseburger rising for the first time in 14 years, from 99p to 1.19p. sterling pounds.
Wetherspoon’s, which is known for its low prices in its pubs across Britain, has increased the cost of its chicken tikka masala meal with an alcoholic drink from £9.70 to £10.43 (up 8 per cent).
Meanwhile, its warm chocolate brownie with ice cream was up from £3.85 to £4.55 (an 18 per cent increase), tea and coffee were up from £1.35 to £1.45 (an increase of 7 per cent) and a pint of Guinness rose from £2.99 to £3.21 (up 7 per cent).
The figures were seen last month at its Oxted Inn branch in Surrey. by Sunwhich also noted that prices vary in Wetherspoon’s pubs across Britain.
At Nando’s, the prices indicated by the daily mirror in January this year found that the cost of ten chicken wings with two sides had increased by 8% from £15.45 to £16.75 compared to January 2022, while a whole chicken increased by £3%. 14.50 to £14.95. Meanwhile, a full chicken dish for delivery had risen 11 per cent from £24.95 to £27.75.
A Nando’s spokesperson told MailOnline today: ‘As with many businesses, we are affected by increases in the cost of ingredients and in the operation of our restaurants, which means that while some prices have remained the same, some have had to change.
“We continue to work hard to absorb costs wherever we can and are committed to delivering the best possible value to customers.”
and an investigation of the observer in November 2022 it found that the prices of some of the most popular meals, snacks and drinks on High Street had risen as much as 26 percent since 2020.
He inspected a Zizzi restaurant in central London and found that a meal of spaghetti with chorizo carbonara had risen 22% from £11.70 to £14.25 over that period, while a chicken and prosciutto salad had gone up. 18% from £12.25 to £14.50.
Both prices have since risen further, as MailOnline reviewed the menus today.
READ MORE – Impact of the cost of living crisis when inflation reaches 10.4%
The inflation rate in Britain rose for the first time in four months, a rise that increases pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates tomorrow.
Analysts were surprised this morning after the CPI inflation rate rose to 10.4 percent in February from 10.1 percent in January.
The Office for National Statistics said this was mainly due to rising alcohol prices in bars and restaurants, while high energy prices continued to have an impact.
Most economists had expected the CPI to fall to 9.9 percent in February, but the rise highlights the continued shrinking cost of living in UK household budgets.
Kathryn Turner, Director of Food Development at Zizzi, told MailOnline: ‘At Zizzi we continually strive to offer our customers excellent value for money with our menu of classic dishes made from top quality ingredients.
“Over the past four years, including the pandemic and during recent high-cost inflation, Zizzi has kept average prices across our entire menu below full inflation, and customers consistently rate Zizzi as excellent value for money. .
“To offer even better value, we also recently welcomed the 250,000th member to our Zillionaires’ Club loyalty platform, which rewards customers every time they visit a Zizzi restaurant with exclusive benefits including free food and drinks, and exclusive discounts for members. ‘
MailOnline also contacted McDonald’s and Wetherspoon for comment.
The hospitality sector has been raising prices in the face of skyrocketing energy and wage costs, as well as food costs.
And industry insiders are now warning that Britons planning a holiday in the UK “could be in for a nasty surprise when they get the bill.”
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said today: ‘A 12.1 per cent price increase among hotel companies helped fuel inflation, with higher spirits prices behind much of the move.
“Hotels and restaurants are also struggling with everything from rising food costs to higher energy prices and wage increases, which has convinced them that prices need to go up.
“This will be pretty sad news for anyone planning a holiday close to home this year, who could be in for a nasty surprise when they get the bill.”
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “ONS statistics released this morning show a clear correlation between the unexpected rise in inflation and inflated prices in the hospitality sector, where food and drink costs for businesses have increased by 24 percent.
“This, coupled with high energy costs, has resulted in a price increase for customers of more than 12 percent, the highest in 30 years.”
He also raised concerns about rising energy prices if government support wears off, saying this will “force operators to raise prices for consumers again, further driving inflation up.”