Pub Pints costing as much as a canned Craft Beer!

The Price of a Pint Hits £5 – And It’s Only Going Up!

Well, folks, it’s official – the average pint in the UK now costs over £5. According to data from The Morning Advertiser, the price of a draught pint has jumped from £4.82 in December 2024 to £5.00 or more today. If you thought beer was getting pricey, you weren’t wrong!

Average cost of a pint of lager

Beavertown Neck Oil – The Most Expensive Pint

Leading the charge in wallet-draining beers is Beavertown Neck Oil, which has overtaken Asahi as the UK’s priciest pint. On average, it’ll set you back £6.36, but if you’re in London, prepare to cough up a whopping £6.92. Meanwhile, the North East serves the cheapest Neck Oil at £5.70 – still not exactly a bargain pint.

Beaverton Neck Oil

Where’s the Cheapest Pint in the UK?

If you want to get the most beer for your buck, head to the Midlands, where the average pint is just £4.47. Meanwhile, Londoners are paying the most, with the capital’s average pint price reaching £6.16. If prices keep climbing, Londoners will soon need a bank loan just to enjoy a Friday night down the pub!

Madri has dropped in price

Some Beers Have Actually Dropped in Price

It’s not all bad news, though. Since August 2024, 10 out of the 33 beers surveyed have dropped in price. These include:

• Greene King IPA

• Abbot Ale

• Wainwright

• Camden Hells

• BrewDog Punk IPA

• Carling

• Carlsberg

• Pravha

• Madri

• Asahi

Maybe it’s time to swap your hazy craft IPA for a pint of Carling – if your taste buds can handle it!

What Makes Up the Cost of a Pint?

So, why exactly is your pint so expensive? Management at The Duke of Greenwich pub in London provided these details, to break it down.

For a £6 pint of house lager, here’s where your money goes:

• £1.36 to the brewery (plus 5% wastage)

• £1.76 on staff wages

• £1.16 on rent, utilities, heating, and washing glasses

• Various costs for beer gas, insurance, and maintenance

• Just 83p (13.8%) is profit for the pub

Price breakdown: Pint of House Lager

And if you think pubs are making a killing on pricier pints, think again! A £7.80 Crush IPA actually has a lower profit margin of 12.7%, with less than £1 of that price going into the pub’s pocket.

Price breakdown: Pint of Drop Project Brewery Crush IPA

Final Thoughts

Beer prices are climbing, and if you live in London, you’re paying over £6 a pint on average. But with some beers dropping in price, there’s still hope for budget-conscious drinkers. So, will you be switching to cheaper pints, or are you willing to splash out for your favourites? Peronally, I'm sticking to nice craft beers anyway! Let me know in the comments!

If you feel the urge, I thank you in advance!