Slug & Lettuce owner Stonegate Group is coming under fire for introducing a surcharge for its drinks when venues are busy, with beers costing 20p more during peak times like the weekend or sporting events.
Placing signs across 800 of its sites, the group that also owns Yates and Be At One bars said it introduced “dynamic pricing” similar to Uber to help cover soaring costs involved with outgoings like hiring new staff, adding more bouncers and washing glasses.
One customer leaving a review on Google to express their displeasure with the new system wrote: “Charges more because it’s busy? [The pub] wanted £4.50 for a small glass of cola… avoid like the plague.”
Another commented on Linkedin: “I get the pressures on costs and pubs but the idea of not knowing the prices for sure at any time makes it a bit of a lottery and seems a bit uncomfortable. Not great for customer relations?”
Slug & Lettuce (Source: The O2)
Having previously introduced the surcharges during busy events such as the World Cup, the privately-owned group said it expects to use the new pricing more often, placing notices about the changes at several of its venues.
Notices read: “Any increase in our pricing today is to cover these additional requirements” before listing several costs including “satisfying and complying with licensing requirements.”
In previous experiences when prices spiked they increased by as much as £1, but Stonegate’s pub Coach House in central London said the new pricing system meant a pint increased by 20p on weekends.
UK laws currently state customers must be given sufficient information at the point of sale, providing buyers with the price in a timely fashion in order to prevent a misleading omission at the point of transaction.
A spokesman for Stonegate claimed the price increases, which would usually occur during busy events, would be much less than £2 and would fall during normal trading hours.
He added: “Across the managed business our dynamic pricing encompasses the ability to offer guests a range of promotions including happy hours, two-for-one cocktails, and discounts on food and drink products at different times on different days throughout the week.
“This flexibility may mean that on occasions pricing may marginally increase in selective pubs and bars due to the increased cost demands on the business with additional staffing or licensing requirements such as additional door team members.”