A Manchester pub has been secretly charging more for the price of a pint on matchdays for a decade.
Wetherspoons owned Manchester pub The Bishop Blaize adds £1 more to the price of pints whenever Manchester United play at home.
The establishment has been found to be increasing prices whenever a large concert took place at Old Trafford stadium.
As reported by The Manchester Evening News, the practice only ended recently when regulars came in for a drink after matchday and found their pint of Carling cost £2.25, rather than the £3.60 that they were usually charged on the weekend.
As explained in a conversation between M.E.N and J.D. Wetherspoon, the reason for the increased prices are to cover extra bar staff and bouncers needed at busy serving times. As food is not served on matchdays, the increased prices help keep the establishment afloat.
Wetherspoon maintain they have never hidden matchday price rises from their customers.
Regulars to The Bishop Blaize have expressed their resentment at the practice, which concluded last month.
“I complained and they said it was illegal to charge two sets of prices. If that’s the case they should just get rid of it,” said the customer to M.E.N, aged 62.
He added: “I go in there most days with mum who is 92. The staff in there are nice. I feel sorry for them. It’s Wetherspoon’s who are to blame. It’s been like this for ten years since it opened. It’s packed in there on matchdays. They are queuing out of the door.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said it was in fact legal to charge two sets of prices, and added: “Prices on some drinks are increased on matchdays. This has been the situation for a number of years in the pub. We have never hidden this from our customers
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