Wetherspoon has announced plans to ditch several classic menu items in favour of new gourmet burgers and Korean-style dishes.
The pub chain will remove steaks, mixed grills and gammon from its menus on May 14 and replace them with new options.
Diners have shared their “disappointment” at the changes, which will also mean the end of the chain’s Steak Club deal, which currently runs every Tuesday from 11:30am to 11pm.
Under the current menu, pubgoers can enjoy a steak and soft drink for £9.67, or upgrade to an alcoholic drink for £11.20.
Wetherspoon chief executive John Huston reportedly shared the news to staff in an email, writing that the changes came “after much debate” and are the result of multiple factors.
These include the company’s aim of returning to pre-pandemic profit levels.
In its most recent trading update, the chain enjoyed sales growth of nearly 8% in the 12 months leading up to July 2024.
The changes were reportedly trialled in selected locations from January, with all pubs in the chain to follow suit.
Many customers complained about the changes, with one X user writing: “I prefer a nice steak dinner when I go out, I for one will not be going to Wetherspoons ever again!!”
Another added: “Absolutely gutted about Wetherspoon removing the steak off the menu.”
A third user shared their devastation: “Wetherspoon axing the steaks and the mixed grill. This is my 9/11. Feel like crying.”
In a statement, the company confirmed the menu changes, saying: “Wetherspoon is confident that its menu provides a variety of choices and value-for-money meals.
“We appreciate that some customers will be disappointed with the decision to remove steaks and grills.
“A new range of gourmet burgers will be introduced; The Big Smoke, Buffalo Burger and Cheese Meltdown, on Wednesday, 14 May.
“There will also be a range of Korean-style chicken meals added.”
The Big Smoke will include pulled beef brisket and maple-cured bacon while the Buffalo is stacked with fried buttermilk chicken, blue cheese sauce and topped with a spicy wing.
Meanwhile, the Cheese Meltdown has a three-cheese sauce on either buttermilk chicken or a beef patty.
Last month, Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin revealed why his pubs do not allow dogs or play music.
Speaking to Sky News, he described dogs in pubs as a “divisive issue”.
“Some people like them in big pubs like ours, but with lots of children at half term like at the moment, it doesn’t work very well.”
He said music could be equally contentious, adding: “You can choose your own when you go home, as I do myself.”
Martin also revealed the origin of the pub chain’s name, explaining it came from a “nice” teacher who “couldn’t control the class”.
“In the first pub I couldn’t control the customers or the staff, no one did what I would say, so I sympathised with the teacher.”
