Wetherspoons Staff Exposed for Boozy Upsell Tactics
Budget pub giant Wetherspoons is under fire after staff spilled the beans on a sneaky upselling trick designed to boost your bar bill. The revelation comes from a 2021 Channel 5 documentary that uncovered how staff are trained to push pricier booze options on punters.
‘Double Shot’ Sales Trick Revealed
Employees admit they lead with the costlier choice – like a double shot of liquor – to tempt customers into spending more. One insider said, “We say the word ‘double’ first so it sticks in their head. It works most of the time.” Another revealed it’s part of their training to add an extra item to every order.
Wetherspoons Denies Hard Sell on Spirits
But the chain’s bosses hit back, insisting the upsell push applies only to soft drinks, not alcohol. A spokesperson claimed: “While we ask customers if they want a larger size for soft drinks, upselling spirits has been discouraged for over a decade.” They also stressed their focus on fast service and fair pours with every pint.
Menu Overhaul Sees 18 Drinks Cut
This booze drama coincides with Wetherspoons slashing 18 drinks from its menu just ahead of summer. Notable cutbacks include Lambs Navy Rum, Bombay Bramble, and Gordon’s Sicilian Lemon. Cocktail favourites like the Tanqueray Spritz and Smirnoff and Monster pitchers have also been canned, along with Tropical Raspberry and Tropical Guava Corona seltzers.
As debate simmers over their sales tactics, customers and industry watchers are keenly awaiting Wetherspoons’ next move.
