Budget pub chain Wetherspoons has defended its plans for an 11-hour pub crawl by coach that will take in seven ‘Spoons locations along its route.
Participants on the booze cruise bus will begin their voyage at Southport, Merseyside and embark on an odyssey of northern ‘Spoons pubs, taking in seven venues in total on their way to Blackpool.
Those on board the Willow Grove Beer Bus tour will stop off at pubs in Preston, Lytham St Annes, Blackpool, Cleveleys, Poulton and Leyland. A ticket costs £22 and includes breakfast and lunch.
“This gives lonely drinkers a chance to make friends. A lot of elderly people are isolated and crawls like this offer some companionship. It’s not a free-for-all where people will be vomiting on the back seat.” said local Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) chief Doug McAdam.
However, not everyone was so enthused about the prospect. National Obesity Forum’s Tam Fry told The Mirror, “If Wetherspoon was serious about the health of its customers, it would call this off.”
Some have also raised concerns that such schemes could promote binge drinking, though a spokesperson for Wetherspoons said the pub crawl was “a fun way for Wetherspoon fans to visit a number of the company’s pubs without having to drive themselves.”
Though regulars to Wetherspoon pubs are used to enjoying the low prices that have become the chain’s hallmark, customers were faced with the prospect of a price increase earlier this year.
From March 1 the price of a pint in Wetherspoon pubs across the UK increased by 10p outside of London, and 20p in the capital. You can read more on the price increase here.
