Wetherspoon has insisted the 'urban myth' that it sells beer close to its sell-by date is a 'ludicrous fairytale'.

Drinkers seeking to impress friends with their 'insider knowledge' of the pub industry have long repeated the claim that the chain uses its scale to buy huge batches of short-dated ale and lager for a discount before selling it rapidly to thirsty customers.

But 'Spoons' has decided enough is enough and debunked the theory in the latest issue of its in-house magazine, Wetherspoon News - threatening to sue any publication which repeats it.

It said the chain was able to sell pints cheaper than rivals by having longer opening hours, agreeing long-term supply contracts and accepting 'lower operating margins'.

The magazine article, which did not carry an author name but would have been either written or endorsed by its chairman, Tim Martin, raged at against a user of the website Quora for airing the 'nonsense' claim.

Wetherspoon moved to scotch and 'urban myth' that it buys beer that is nearing its sell-by date. Pictured is its chairman, Tim Martin

The chain debunked the theory in the latest issue of its in-house magazine, Wetherspoon News - threatening to sue any publication who repeats it

It read: 'The ludicrous fairytale that Wetherspoon sells beer which is close to its sell-by date has never appeared in print, but was seen on a website called Quora, posted by a ''Brian Martin''.

'Wetherspoon wrote to Quora and Google, asking them to remove the offending article.

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'Had the Quora/Google allegation appeared in a newspaper (it never has), there would have been grounds for legal action for defamation.

'Giant companies like Google, very controversially, claim not to be 'publishers' and that legal action can be taken against only those making the defamatory post.'

The article continued: 'Wetherspoon has five- to 10-year contracts with its main beer suppliers which, unsurprisingly, do not allow for ''short-dated beer''.

'Indeed, also unsurprisingly, neither Greene King/Budweiser nor their competitors have ever offered Wetherspoon short-dated beer. Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists.'

Wetherspoon praised an article in local newspaper MyLondon for carrying a comment from its spokesman dismissing the theory.

This said it would be 'preposterous' to suggest Wetherspoon or its supplies would 'risk their reputation' by selling short-dated beer.

A 'Spoons' spokesman has said the chain was able to sell pints cheaper than rivals by having longer opening hours, agreeing long-term supply contracts and accepting lower margins

The statement continued: 'Wetherspoon also opens for longer hours than most pubs [eg the pubs open for breakfast] and sell food for prolonged periods – normally until 11pm.

'High sales of a wide range of products and long-term relationships with suppliers are some of the key factors.'

Today, a pint of Ruddles at The Sedge Lynn in Greater Manchester would set you back £1.77, a Doom Bar £2.06, a Bud Light £2.34 and a Guinness £3.09.

The same order at The William Morris in Hammersmith, West London, should cost £1.88, £3.06, £3.18 and £4.48 consecutively.