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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Emma Munbodh

Wetherspoons to extend Eat Out to Help Out scheme with 'cheaper meals than McDonald's'

Pub operator JD Wetherspoon is launching a new discounted food scheme on Tuesday, as the Chancellor's Eat Out to Help Out initiative comes to a close across the UK.

The move will see prices on a range of meals and drinks reduced from Monday to Wednesday until November 11.

The cheaper prices will start on September 1, following the end of the Government's drive to encourage people to eat out by subsidising meals during August.

Wetherspoon said prices on some of its meals and drinks will be cheaper than those available in takeaways.

The meals on offer will include an 11-inch Margherita pizza with a soft drink for £3.99 and a classic six ounce beef burger meal for £3.99.

A traditional breakfast will cost £2.99 and a small breakfast £2.49.

The pubs will also be offering three small plates for £7.50 and mini desserts at 99p.

Diners and restaurateurs have called for the campaign to be extended across the board (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

There will be a choice of 21 small plates in the three for £7.50 deal, including nachos, halloumi fries, chicken wings and nine varieties of pizza.

Coffee or tea will be available for 99p, and all soft drinks will cost 99p.

Alcohol will not be included in any of the new offers.

Chairman Tim Martin said the scheme has been "extremely popular" since August 1.

"The government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme was extremely popular with our customers and a great boost to the hospitality industry," the Wetherspoon founder said.

A traditional breakfast will cost £2.99 and a small breakfast £2.49 (JD Wetherspoon)

"We are keen to offer our customers a superb choice of food and drink at great value for money prices.

"Our offer means that a classic beef burger in our pubs will be even better value than McDonald’s.

"The classic burger in Wetherspoon is £3.99 versus McDonald’s Big Mac medium meal (comprising Big Mac two 1.6 ounce beef patties, medium fries, medium Coca-Cola Zero Sugar) which costs £4.59.

"In addition cappuccino in our pubs  will be 50p cheaper than McDonald’s and our customers can have free refills too.

"Our prices are also lower than Domino’s Pizza for an 11-inch pizza.

"The 11- inch Margherita pizza and soft drink is £3.99 at Wetherspoon versus Domino’s Pizza two topping 11.5 inch pizza deal (no drink) at £5.99.

"A Domino’s Pizza Mighty Meaty 11.5 inch pizza meal deal costs £9.99 (no drink) compared to the Wetherspoon Spicy Meat Feast at £5.99 (including soft drink), a saving of £4."

Diners and restaurateurs have called for the Eat Out to Help Out campaign to be extended nationwide, as Rishi Sunak's subsidised scheme comes to an end on Bank Holiday Monday.

Downing Street said more than 64 million meals had been claimed for so far since the initiative was launched in an attempt to boost the hospitality industry in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

84,000 outlets signed up, according to the most recently released Treasury statistics.

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