Latest news with #pintprice
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The average price of a pint rises AGAIN across UK – how much is booze in YOUR area?
THE average price of a pint has soared to £5.17 across the UK, delivering a bitter blow to beer enthusiasts. The Morning Advertiser's latest pint price survey has revealed the cost of a jar across England, Wales and Scotland is now 34p higher than figures reported by the Office for National Statistics in February. Beer prices have risen sharply as manufacturers and pubs grappple with higher alcohol taxes, soaring utility bills and increased staffing costs. The trade magazine's latest survey, regularly updated, examines the average cost of a pint across London, the Midlands, the North East, the North West, the South East, the South West, Scotland, and Wales. According to The Morning Advertiser, London tops the list for the priciest pints, with pub owners charging an average of £6.10. The cost of popular brands in the capital has also climbed, with a pint of Guinness reaching £6.45, Birra Moretti £7.17, and Camden Hells £7.05 since February. In contrast, the Midlands boasts the cheapest average pint in Great Britain, priced at £4.68. Tennent's lager is the most affordable option there at £3.50, followed by Carlsberg at £3.72. Meanwhile, Foster's and Greene King IPA are slightly pricier at £3.80 and £3.85, respectively. However, The Morning Advertiser's survey revealed that pint prices in the Midlands increased by 5.15% between January and April, while London bucked the trend with a 1.22% decrease during the same period. Meanwhile, beer prices in Wales rose by 3.87%, and the South East saw a more modest increase of 2.54%. The survey also examined the average prices of over 30 beer brands, covering categories including lager, craft beer, cask ale, and stout. Britain's best beer ranked It found that Camden Hells and BrewDog Punk IPA are now the most expensive pints in Great Britain, with an average price of £6.34. Following closely behind are Beavertown Neck Oil at £6.24, Peroni at £6.12, and Asahi at £6.11. On the more affordable end of the scale, Tennent's and Carlsberg emerged as the cheapest options, with drinkers paying an average of £4.23 per pint across England, Wales, and Scotland. Greene King IPA, Budweiser, and Foster's, come with an average price of £4.36, £4.38, and £4.47, respectively. List of most and least expensive pints Here are the most and least expensive pints across Great Britain, according to the Morning Advertiser: Camden Hells - £6.34 BrewDog Punk IPA - £6.34 Beavertown Neck Oil - £6.24 Peroni - £6.14 Asahi - £6.11 Birra Moretti - £6.04 Camden Pale Ale - £5.69 Guinness - £5.56 Estrella Damm - £5.56 Madri - £5.55 Staropramen - £5.53 Cruzcampo - £5.39 Heineken - £5.29 San Miguel - £5.28 Stella Artois - £5.27 Pravha - £5.19 Pedigree - £5.16 Amstel - £5.16 Timothy Taylor's Landlord - £5.12 London Pride - £4.82 Wainwright - £4.75 Coors Light - £4.74 Corona - £4.73 Abbot Ale - £4.70 Carling - £4.62 Tribute Pale Ale - £4.59 Doom Bar - £4.57 Hobgoblin - £4.57 Foster's - £4.47 Budweiser - £4.38 Greene King IPA - £4.36 Carlsberg - £4.23 Tennent's - £4.23 BREWERIES AND PUBS STRUGGLE Breweries and pubs across the UK have struggled in recent years as the high cost of living sees customers' budgets take a dent. The increased cost of brewing and beer prices, as well as rising energy bills have also had an impact. Figures analysed and published by the Altus Group earlier this year revealed over 400 pubs across England and Wales were demolished or converted for other uses in the year to December. This saw the number of pubs across the two countries dip below 39,000 for the first time. More than 34 pubs a month called last orders for the final time over the year - the sharpest fall in pub numbers since 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic. UK pub numbers have now plunged by more than 2,000 since the start of 2020. A number of breweries are facing trouble too, including the Fourpure brewing company which appointed administrators in October and the Magic Rock Brewery which said it would bring administrators at the start of the year. Meanwhile, Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) said in November it would stop making eight classic British cask beers following a review. A number of pubs also warned they would have to hike prices for customers this year after the Government's Autumn Budget. Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and the national minimum wage both rose in April. But businesses cautioned this would force them into upping the price of drinks as they try and absorb the extra costs. Simon Dodd, chief executive of Young's, said the chain planned to hike its prices by between 2.5% and 3%. Wetherspoons also hiked the price of some of its drinks and meal deals by up to 30p in January. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Wetherspoons pint prices to rise by 20p in DAYS as Tim Martin blames Labour Budget tax hikes
THE boss of Wetherspoons has warned the price of a pint will go up by 20p in the coming days as breweries are already pushing through hikes on the back of costs pressures from the Budget. Sir Tim Martin said the government kept heaping pressure on pubs through higher taxes and costs. 1 The pub industry had already faced demands for higher prices from breweries, which had increased their prices by around 7p per pint in the past week, he revealed. "It means pints in pubs are going to go up by on average 15p to 20p this month", he said. The British Beer and Pub Association recently warned that the price of a pint is expected to exceed the £5 mark, up from the current average of £4.80. Breweries are reacting to increases in the National Living Wage and National Insurance contributions, which came into effect at the start of April. The National Living Wage rose by 77p an hour to £12.21, while the rate of employer National Insurance contributions increased from 13.8% to 15%. Plus, the threshold at which businesses begin paying this tax was reduced, dropping from £9,100 to £5,000 a year. Sir Tim warned: "The risk to the country is people either in the UK or coming from abroad will thing that it's too expensive to set up a business in the UK." The latest price hikes follow a similar move in January, when Wetherspoon told The Sun it had raised the prices of certain drinks and meal deals by up to 30p. Despite rising costs, however, the pub chain boss remained confident that customers would stick with their favourite drinks. Sir Tim said: "Guinness is pretty expensive but we are selling plenty of the stuff. Why are so many pubs and bars closing? "We have also introduced Jaipur ale, which is more pricey but doing very well. "Our Stella also outsells Bud Light, which is cheaper." The Wetherspoon boss confirmed he remains "very keen" on the idea of opening pubs overseas through the company's rapidly growing franchise business. The pub giant already operates a few franchised pubs on university campuses and seven pubs within Haven Holiday parks. "It's a good sign the holiday parks are doing very well so we think it will do well with people overseas, especially where Brits holiday." Sir Tim added that he is "open to anything," including launching pubs in airports and campsites. Wetherspoons revealed like-for-like sales had jumped 5.6% in the 13 weeks to April 27 this morning. How can I save money at Wetherspoons? FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day. Check a map - Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other. So if you're planning a pint at a Spoons, it's worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you're settling in at the cheapest. Choose your day - Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights. For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual. Pick-up vouchers - Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled. Get appy - The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table - but you don't need to be in the pub to use it. Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play. Check the date - Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry. It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14. As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival. What else is happening at Wetherspoons? Despite rising cost pressures, Wetherspoon is set to open 15 brand-new pubs in the coming days, following a recent surge in sales. Six locations already have confirmed opening dates, which The Sun can exclusively reveal. Wetherspoon also announced that approximately nine more pubs are expected to open by July 2026. First on the list is The Conister Arms in Douglas, Isle of Man, set to open on Wednesday, May 14. Next is Walham Green at Fulham Broadway, South West London, opening on Tuesday, June 17. The Dictum of Kenilworth in Warwickshire will follow, opening on Wednesday, July 30. On Tuesday, August 26, The Sun Wharf on Tooley Street near London Bridge will welcome punters. The King of Essex in Basildon is scheduled to open on Tuesday, September 23. Finally, a new pub in Merchant Square, Paddington, is also set to open later this summer, though the exact date has yet to be confirmed. Wetherspoon is also launching a new "gourmet" food range from May 14, adding exciting new burgers to its iconic menu. Top of the list is The Big Smoke, a towering burger packed with pulled BBQ beef brisket, American-style cheese, and maple-cured bacon—offering a perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, the Buffalo Burger is sure to be a hit. It features a crispy fried buttermilk chicken breast, tangy blue cheese, fiery naga chilli sauce, and melted American-style cheese. Finally, cheese lovers can indulge in the Cheese Meltdown, a rich and creamy creation loaded with American-style cheese and topped with a blend of melted Emmental and Cheddar sauce. Full list of new pubs on the way WHETHERSPOONS is gearing up to open pubs in six brand-new locations, with the first set to welcome punters in just a few days. The pub giant is also planning to launch an additional nine pubs over the next financial year.
