JD Wetherspoon defends decision to scrap Sunday Roasts

Wetherspoon's has defended its controversial decision to take Sunday Roast Dinners off its menu.

It was revealed this weekend that the pub chain will serve its final ‘Sunday Club’ menu of a roast dinner and alcoholic drink for less than £7 on the 13 March.

Loyal Wetherspoon's fans took to social media to express their anger at the move, with users branding it an ‘outrage’ and ‘the beginning of the end’.

Roast fan Nicholas Hair has already started a petition calling on the company's founder Tim Martin to rethink the decision.

However, Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon told BigHospitality that the move was ‘right for the company and its pubs’.

“We completely understand that many customers are surprised and disappointed with the decision taken by Wetherspoon,” said Gershon.

“We want to concentrate on our main menu and as a result decided to take the Sunday lunch off the menu.”

The news comes as Wetherspoon announced it would be re-launching its food offering on Wednesday (2 March) with new dishes and drinks.

“We wanted to think more about the food that’s available every day rather than something that’s only once a week,” a Wetherspoon representative told Buzzfeed.

The spokesperson added that ‘there will still be a roasted meat meal on the main menu’.

The chain’s current menu includes an extended ‘Deli’ range of ‘healthy’ jacket potatoes, chicken, avocado and halloumi wraps, and two new gourmet burgers.