The price of a pint has surpassed £10 in London for the first time, as the cost of beer continues to climb across the capital. Several high-end establishments are now charging £10 or more for draught or bottled beer, reflecting broader inflationary pressures on the hospitality sector.
Rising Costs at Premium Venues
Stanley's rooftop bar in Mayfair, attached to the Chesterfield hotel, is among those that have increased prices. A pint of Moretti or Heineken now costs £11, while a half pint is priced at £8. Guinness is sold for £10 a pint, according to the bar's menu. Bottled beer is even more expensive, with the Connaught Grill in Mayfair charging £12.50 for a 330ml bottle of Noam lager or Curious IPA.
This surge comes months after Diageo, the maker of Guinness, announced that draught prices would rise by 5.2 percent in April, driven by increasing operational costs. Pub owners have expressed frustration, with some telling the Morning Advertiser that Diageo seemed "hell-bent on having the first £10 a pint beer."
London's Premium Pricing
London remains one of the most expensive places in the UK to buy a pint, with the Morning Advertiser reporting an average price of £6.50, slightly below Oxford at £6.75. As the £7 pint becomes commonplace in the capital, industry experts are calling on the government to take action to keep prices affordable.
Ash Corbett-Collins, chair of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), told The Telegraph: "It's not surprising pint prices are rising across London and the UK, but our pubs and breweries should not be blamed. Extreme financial pressures from the government are forcing publicans to either raise their prices or consider closing for good."
Corbett-Collins emphasised the need for government support, stating: "The government must recognise pubs for the essential wellbeing benefits their community spaces provide, and their essential contributions to the economy. They must recognise increased employer National Insurance contributions are adding to cost pressures, commit to a fairer business rates system, lower VAT on food and drink for hospitality businesses as well as alcohol duties so publicans can keep their doors open and pub-going becomes affordable again."
National Picture
The average pint price across the UK stands at £4.52, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, with lager averaging £4.82. Meanwhile, the number of pubs continues to decline nationwide. In January, pub landlords welcomed the government's decision to reverse planned cuts to business-rate relief for the hospitality industry. Chancellor Rachel Reeves had previously proposed reducing the discount from 75 percent to 40 percent, but the U-turn provided some respite for struggling venues.
