The average price of a pint of lager in the UK has risen to more than £5 for the first time ever, as new figures show the most expensive pint in the UK – and where it is
Punters are told pints have had yet another price hike amid the cost of living crisis – with customers set to feel the pinch even more in certain areas.
The average price of a pint in British pubs has rocketed past the £5 mark, hitting an eye-watering £5.08. That’s more than a quid more than what you’d have forked out just three years back, as per The Morning Advertiser’s latest report. And if you thought that was steep, the Office of National Statistics had us at £4.82 back in December 2024. Beavertown Neck Oil is now the priciest pint on tap, averaging £6.36, snatching the top spot from Asahi.
Perhaps most shockingly, a swanky London pub has been quietly slapping a £2 surcharge on late-night pints without making it clear on the menu.
The O’Neills in Soho’s Wardour Street has been hiking its drink prices every night, with punters shelling out up to £9.40 for a pint post-10pm, reports Birmingham Live.
Daytime drinkers are charged £7.40 for a pint of Brewdog IPA, but those same suds will set you back £9.40 after the clock strikes 10. The only heads-up is an A4 note tucked away at the bar’s end, stating: “We operate a variable price list in this venue.”
A spokesperson defended the tactic to The Independent, saying: “Most hospitality businesses and retailers deploy a form of dynamic pricing, but this means that prices can both rise as well as fall through tactical discounts being offered in the form of time-limited promotions and fixed price menus.
“Dynamic pricing varies on a site-by-site basis as it reflects the local market conditions, but temporary price increases tend to reflect the need to offset additional costs such as at times when door security is required.”
In the East and West Midlands, including pubs in Birmingham, punters are shelling out for Beavertown Neck Oil at a steeper £5.70 — still the priciest tipple in the area, but a tad more wallet-friendly.
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