Chorley pub takes on JDW with 98p pint

A Lancashire pub has launched a 98p pint to highlight the "stupidity" of Wetherspoon's 99p offer.

The Swan With Two Necks in Chorley is offering customers a 3.5% brew called "With a Spoon" specially commissioned from the Barons Revenge Brewery for the pub. The pint will be served with a plastic spoon and customers who collect ten spoons will get a free pint.

The deal is the brainchild of well-known licensee Nick Hogan, famous for his stance against the smoke ban, defence of discredited pubco Provence and as a UK Independence Party candidate. Hogan is a partner in the Swan With Two Necks.

"I've done this to highlight the stupidity of Wetherspoons," said Hogan. "Their 99p pint will not benefit the general pub trade — just their chain. This is at a time when the pub trade is in serious decline for a number of reasons — not least the smoking ban.

"This will not help the industry and will encourage the sort of drunkenness that the public is thoroughly fed up with. It is irresponsible and stupid."

JD Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Our pub, the Sir Henry Tate, is extremely popular and we have introduced our new prices. If another pub chooses to act on this it can only be good news for drinkers in the town."

The deal at the Swan With Two Necks begins this Friday.