JD Wetherspoon has pledged to limit any increase in the price of its famous breakfast to a maximum of 20p next year, its founder and chairman Tim Martin has announced.
A 'Maximum' Increase Amid Cost Pressures
Speaking on LBC radio on Monday 1st December 2025, Sir Tim Martin told presenter Nick Ferrari that there would be a "maximum" increase of 20p "across the board" for the pub chain's breakfast meal. This confirmation comes despite the hospitality sector facing severe pressure from rising food costs and significant tax hikes.
Martin had previously warned of price increases at Wetherspoons due to escalating costs from higher wages and taxes. The company faced a £60m bill following a hike to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) earlier this year, though the chairman has consistently vowed to keep inflation to a minimum.
The classic breakfast – featuring a fried egg, bacon, sausages, baked beans, two hash browns and toast – currently varies in price across the country. It costs £6.99 in central London, £5.75 in Birmingham New Street, and £3.79 in Brentwood, Essex.
Autumn Budget Delivers Blow to Struggling Sector
The announcement follows what has been described as a "deeply concerning" Autumn Budget for the hospitality industry. Many businesses were hoping for tax breaks to help them recover, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves' second budget delivered no cuts to VAT and no changes to National Insurance.
Even a proposed cut to business rates has been criticised as "too little, too little" and is likely to be wiped out by an inflation-linked revaluation of rates scheduled for next year. Ros Morgan, Chief Executive of HOLBA, stated: "Tinkering with multipliers and reliefs is not reform… only structural change will stop this escalating damage."
Mounting Cost Pressures Threaten Business Survival
The financial strain on pubs, cafes, and restaurants is intensifying from multiple directions. A 4.1 per cent increase in the National Minimum Wage will raise the annual cost of a full-time minimum-wage worker by around £900.
According to payment provider Dojo, for a business with 20 to 30 full-time equivalent staff, this could translate to an additional £20,000 to £30,000 in annual payroll costs just to maintain current staffing levels.
Karl Mason, spokesperson for the UK Spirits Alliance and director of Masons of Yorkshire, issued a stark warning: "Three in ten landlords are scared that they will go bust within a year if costs increase; this Budget will push businesses on the brink over the edge."
Against this bleak backdrop, Tim Martin's commitment to capping the rise of a staple menu item offers a rare piece of predictable cost for consumers. It marks the second year running he has given such an assurance to Nick Ferrari and LBC listeners on breakfast pricing.
