Murphy’s Irish Stout is making a rather welcome return to Wetherspoons, and frankly, this feels like the sort of pub news that deserves a raised glass. After more than a decade away from the chain, the smooth Cork-born stout is being rolled back into all Wetherspoons pubs across the UK, with the company expecting every one of its roughly 800 pubs to be pouring it by the end of June.
The best bit? It is expected to cost an average of £2.99 a pint, although prices will vary depending on location. In a world where ordering a round can sometimes feel like applying for a small loan, that is a rather lovely figure to see on the bar. It also puts Murphy’s in a tempting position against the mighty Guinness, which remains the dominant name in Irish stout but often comes in at a higher price in many pubs.
Murphy’s is no newcomer, of course. First brewed in Cork in 1856, it has long had a loyal following thanks to its smooth, creamy character and softer, less bitter profile. At 4% ABV, it sits nicely in proper session territory, with those comforting notes of toasted malt, coffee and chocolate that make a good stout feel less like a drink and more like a small reward for surviving the day.
For many drinkers, Murphy’s has always been the gentler cousin in the stout family. Where Guinness can be sharper, drier and more assertive, Murphy’s tends to lean into that silky, easy-going charm. It is the sort of pint that does not shout across the bar for attention, but gives you a nod, pulls up a chair and makes the evening instantly better.
Its return to Wetherspoons is also something of a full-circle moment. Murphy’s had previously been available in the pub chain before disappearing back in 2014 following a drinks deal dispute with Heineken. Now, more than ten years later, it is back on the taps, and for stout fans who fancy something a little different from the usual black-and-white giant, this is very good news indeed.
Wetherspoons founder and chairman Tim Martin said the company aims to offer customers the best possible choice of drinks, adding that he is sure pubgoers will welcome the arrival of Murphy’s Irish Stout. And to be fair, he is probably right. A creamy Irish stout for around £2.99 a pint feels exactly like the sort of thing that could win over both loyal Murphy’s fans and curious Guinness drinkers looking to change their usual order.
Of course, Murphy’s has never really vanished completely. You can still find it in supermarkets, with four-packs available from the likes of Morrisons and Tesco. But stout is always at its best when it is poured properly on draught, settling beautifully in the glass and giving you that first creamy sip. That is where the magic happens.
So, is this going to dethrone Guinness? Probably not. Guinness is a titan for a reason. But Murphy’s does not need to knock anyone off the bar to make its point. It just needs to offer a smooth, affordable, properly enjoyable alternative, and at £2.99 a pint in Wetherspoons, it might have just found the perfect place to do it.
