The taxpayer has picked up a tab of almost £30million to subsidise the restaurants, bars and cafes in the Houses of Parliament over the last three years. It means that meals and drinks in the seat of the nation’s government are around HALF the price of similar food and drink in pubs and restaurants battling for trade in the shadow of the building.
Typically, fish and chips can be bought as a restaurant meal in the Houses of Parliament for less than £10, while outside the building the same dish will cost almost £20. When it comes to alcohol a glass of wine in Parliament costs just £5.50 and a pint of lager can be bought for less that £5 – in nearby pubs the drinks would be at least £2 more expensive.
Parliament’s eateries, from the sandwich bars through to the oak-panelled dining rooms, serve up food and drink at subsidised prices thanks to an almost £1million-per-month handout. Details from Parliamentary accounts show that in the last three years a total of £7.7million has been paid out to balance the books for the eating and drinking venues in the House of Lords.
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Over the same time span another £21.7million has been spent to stop the famous House of Commons’ bars and restaurants from going into the red. Critics say the massive subsidy to Parliament insulates MPs, Lords and their staff from the cost-of-living pressures that the rest of the nation suffers.
But officials claim the subsidy is needed to provide food and drink to people who work irregular and long hours in the Houses of Parliament. One of the biggest individual losses last year was logged at the iconic Terrace Cafeteria where MPs and their staff can sit next to the Thames.
Last year the venue went £2.2million in the red despite the fact the Terrace is one of the most iconic dining venues in the country. The Members’ Dining Room where MPs can grab a lunch or a dinner was £754,000 in the red while the upmarket Strangers’ Dining Room recorded a £723,000 loss.
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The Bishops’ Bar, in the House of Lords needed a subsidy of £107,000 last year while the iconic Peers’ Dining Room needed £1.3million to keep it out of the red.
Benjamin Elks, grassroots development manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Brits struggling to make ends meet will be outraged to find themselves subsidising well heeled politicians.
“As the cost of groceries continues to rise, parliamentarians get to enjoy boozy lunches by the Thames at taxpayers’; expense. It’s time to call last orders on these ridiculous subsidies.”
A House of Commons Spokesperson said: “Our catering venues serve over a million customers every year – including visitors, MPs, Peers and journalists – as well as the thousands of staff who keep Parliament running 24 hours a day.
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“All items are sold above cost price and we continuously seek to reduce costs. Parliament is a unique working environment and our high volume of customers – spread across a number of different outlets and buildings – means that additional costs are unavoidable.
“Prices in our venues are benchmarked against those in the immediate area, increasing most recently in the Spring 2024. This has helped ensure our catering venues are providing value for money, while continuing to support those working on the parliamentary estate.”
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