JD Wetherspoons have announced they will be slashing prices of a select number of drinks to just 99p after the budget announcement from Rishi Sunak yesterday.
The popular British pub chain will be reducing the price of Greene King IPA, Beck's bottles and whiskey measures to 99p, amongst other offers.
Between Monday 1 November and Tuesday 30 November, these cheap pints will be available in bars across the UK, though due to minimum pricing in Scotland and Wales, prices will be slightly higher.
Hot drink prices have also been slashed, with JD Wetherspoons introducing 99p refillable tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
JD Wetherspoons are known for their strong political opinions and have used government announcements to promote their pubs for years.
During the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in August 2020 and in the following months, the pub chain shared a number of 'Sunak Specials', including £1.29 ales.
Wetherspoons also displayed posters with images of the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the phrase: "Rishi Sunak, legend: the man who instigated tax equality between supermarkets and pubs."
Regardless of your political opinion, the reduction in prices will give everyone cheaper pint or whiskey measure throughout November.
Rishi Sunak has been the unofficial face of many Wetherspoons campaigns throughout the pandemic. / Image: HM Treasury
The prices to many alcoholic beverages were changed, including a 3p reduction in tax per pints in pubs and 87p reduction in prosecco tax.
Overall, it appears that there will be a 30p price hike across the hospitality industry after the news yesterday.
However, many taxes rose: red wines, sherry and port face an increase of 47p - £1.09 in tax.
These changes are set to come into effect in February 2023.
On average, the price of a bottle of bin is already charged with 70% tax, so additional tax on high ABV drinks will present challenges to some businesses.
However, it appears that Tim Martin has taken the changes in his usual stride.
The Wetherspoons chairman spoke out about the unforeseen offer, announcing: "our pubs are known for their excellent choice of drinks at value-for-money prices at all times".
Hedley Verity on Woodhouse Lane will be participating in the 99p offer. / Image: JD Wetherspoons
There are 20 pubs within a 10-mile-radius of Leeds city centre, many of which are located in the city centre.
In LS1 customers at Beckett's Bank and The Hedley Verity will be taking full advantage of the price cut to their favourite drinks and undoubtedly the rest of Leeds will be too at their local.
The 99p drinks offer will run throughout the entire month of November. For more information, visit your local branch or the JD Wetherspoons website.
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Sophie Smith -
28th October 2021 
