Food pricing in the spotlight
New laws have come into force surrounding food pricing in pubs, licensees have been warned.
The Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order came into force last month and means licensees must display the prices of the food they sell in a similar way to how they display drinks prices.
Service charges or minimum prices must also now be displayed prominently.
The new law, which is designed to make food prices "unambiguous, easily identifiable and clearly legible" means licensees cannot simply assume customers will read prices on menus left on tables.
Instead they have to display the prices of 30 menu items near the entrance to the pub or the pub's dining area.
Pub trade accountant David Jones has warned the new law means licensees will have to buy new signage to ensure their food prices and service charges are displayed prominently.
Where the prices have to be displayed depends on how food is served in the pub. If the pub serves food throughout with orders taken at the bar, then the prices must be displayed where the customer pays. If those signs can't be seen when a customer walks into the pub then there should be another price list close to the entrance.
If the pub has a separate dining area with waiting staff, the price list must be displayed near the entrance to the area.
The new law means:
- If the pub sells fewer than 30 dishes, prices should be given for all dishes.
- If the pub sells more than 30 dishes, prices should be given for 30 dishes, of which five must be soft drinks (if soft drinks are sold)
- If the pub sells more than 30 dishes divided into categories (for example starters, main courses etc), prices should be given for a minimum of 30 dishes which must include five in each category (or the actual number if there are fewer than five)
- If the pub sells different food for sale as a fixed price meal prices should be given for each fixed price meal
