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Price of beer....

Posted by Andy C on March 24, 2025, 8:30 am

For those that like a pint, just listening to Radio 4 and there was an article talking about the price of beer, only caught the tail end of it but at least one brewer was saying that the £5 pint is just around the corner.

That is going to be another nail in the coffin of an already dying Pub industry - think a visit to the pub is going to become a "luxury" or something you only do on special occasions.

No wonder that "Gen Z" are. or have turned their backs on alcohol.

Who needs a signature anyway......

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by 6TDen on March 24, 2025, 9:34 am, in reply to "Price of beer...."

Following Jerry's unfortunate "off" I'm selling my shares in Whethrspoon's before the market gets wind of it.
Den

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Brickboy on March 24, 2025, 9:41 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

£6.80 for a rubbish pint in the posh-ish eatery by me. £4.20 for a decent pint in the trad, cash only little pub in a side street.

I expect the gym might be cheaper. Listening to R4 the other week a gym chain manager was explaining how they are still expanding on the back of gen z who, apparently, like to socialise at the gym. Beats me why it's such fun but I notice that the streets round here in student land are filled with people going to and from the gym at all hours. Judging by what they wear they don't feel the cold at all but then again the young never have!

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Will on March 24, 2025, 10:20 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Quite. In many areas the advent of the £5 pint was long ago.

Near here there was "media uproar" that Guinness was £7.80 a pint at the Cheltenham Race Festival. Well in my book if you're mug enough to go horse racing you're mug enough to pay such inflated prices.

But as for the death of the pub I'm not so sure. Last weekend I had to stay in a pub/hotel & it was rammed with middle aged middle class "ladies of a certain age" necking G&Ts, cocktails & white wine with an eagerness that would put many a thirsty alcoholic to shame.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Stuart on March 24, 2025, 11:35 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Hi,

>had to stay in a pub/hotel & it was rammed with middle aged middle class "ladies of a certain age" necking G&Ts, cocktails & white wine.

When our kids were at school, missus regularly used to get dolled up to meet up with several other mothers for the above. Only some of said mothers were amused when one of the other dads let slip we called 'em "Coven Meetings" and dobbed me in for the name ...

Regards,

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Greeves Rider on March 25, 2025, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Under a £1 per pint from Tesco https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/251442812?_gl=1*1nll0zn*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..*_ga*ODM2NTU3ODIwLjE3NDI5MzEwMDI.*_ga_33B19D36CY*MTc0MjkzMTAwMi4xLjAuMTc0MjkzMTAwMi4wLjAuMTcyODIxNjQ3OA..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqIm_BhDnARIsAKBYcmtDUNJ6wVs870wmzIYqZz0rG4p-M7VZu1z-kHhVeZsGfEYo3VubJz0aAsUDEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Tonupdave on March 24, 2025, 9:47 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Said it many times on here refused to drink a pint after it went over 50p a pint.. don't drink alcohol anymore but then I'm different.

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Tonupdave on March 24, 2025, 10:00 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

About 30 years ago I spent almost a day at the Bass brewery in the midlands the whole system was done by robotics hardly a person in sight from brewing to putting crates on trucks was done by machine they were at the time producing some weird Australian beer then the guide says at at midnight we go over to American four X....
I must admit in one of the many Pub reconstructions they had there was one of the best beers I have tasted.. if your up that way definitely worth a visit.

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Nigel B on March 24, 2025, 11:34 am, in reply to "Price of beer...."

£6 for a pint of Peroni on Fiday, to accompany a mediocre Toby Carvery. Wouldn't have bothered, but Mrs B had a "half price" offer voucher for the meal bit & even at that it was over-priced. Won't bother visiting there again anytime soon, offers or not.

Not just here that beer is expensive. Germany for mnany years was around €2.50 / €3 for a 0.4 / 0.5 litre draught beer (serving size largely depends on where you are - further South = larger basic serving size). Last September it was €4.50 / €5.50 in bars & restaurants. But a crate of 20 x 0.5 litre bottles could still be had in the supermarkets from €10 + crate & bottle deposit (around €4) for the "weekly offers" and around €16 for the bigger brands. I do prefer draught beer to bottled, though.

I have tended to bring back a year's supply over two trips at cheap German prices - not difficult to do as I don't drink much & the MH has a large garage. At £5-6-7 per pint here I would largely give up. As others are likely to do the same, more pubs / restaurants will be closing in the coming months.

Nigel B.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 24, 2025, 1:31 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

stop drinking the stuff,price will soon come down,after all beer is tax revenue as well, it'll bugger up Rachels plans.
I don't understand why people pay these prices, I don't drink much, but Manns brown ale is £1 a bottle. good old fashioned Londoners drink that, 4 Peroni no alcohol under £5 for 4,can't get a bottle of cheap white for that, and Lidle dumpy even cheaper. I don't drink to get pissed, and left off wine because drinking alone is not good. My best choice is Mackeson hard to find round my way, used to drink that half and half with cider....memories of those hangovers is why I don't drink much now.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Andy C on March 24, 2025, 1:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Manns, Mackeson - classic drinks Nek.

Mackeson and Cider was that not known as Snakebite?

Who needs a signature anyway......

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 24, 2025, 3:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

dunno what the name was, back then it was the drink for us yobbos riders.
Tried once again some years ago.... gawd knows how I'd drink 4 pints of it at a sitting, but the head next day was memorable.
Too old now.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Expat Stu on March 24, 2025, 7:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

it was "a poor mans black velvet"

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Jimbo on March 24, 2025, 5:12 pm, in reply to "Price of beer...."

For those that advocate not going to the pub but staying home and having a drink indoors, Hell awaits. A tenner or so for two pints in the pub makes for an entertaining hour or so of craic, unlike a tenner's worth of supermarket grog drunk alone while watching Corrie.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 24, 2025, 6:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Can't afford pubs in my part of the world, they nearly all wine bars and posh nosh.

No such thing as craic,unless you count in the one in the high street on fight night.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by laverdabru on March 24, 2025, 7:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

If you go online & look at the breakdown of the price of a pint, it's interesting.
In my village I am lucky enough to have a good pub, an average one, & a club. Don't use them nearly as often as I like due to the cost.
The regular exception every few weeks is a family meet up with children & grandchildren. Two reasons - they would not all fit into the small bungalow. And since I became a widower a couple of years back the rooms have mysteriously filled with odd bits of motorcycles, tools & airguns. Plus the cats don't generally like strangers

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Leon Novello on March 24, 2025, 10:21 pm, in reply to "Price of beer...."

Do you still drink warm beer? If that were served in an Australian pub, it would be at high risk of being burned down.

Leon Novello

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Jimbo on March 24, 2025, 10:45 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Do you still have corks hanging off your hats?

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Leon Novello on March 24, 2025, 10:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Yes, they keep the flys away.

Leon Novello

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by laverdabru on March 24, 2025, 10:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Most British beer is designed to be drunk at 'cellar' temperature, not warm, to bring out the flavours. The only reason for beer to be very cold is to conceal the lack of flavour.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Andy C on March 25, 2025, 7:38 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

"The only reason for beer to be very cold is to conceal the lack of flavour"

For example Castlemaine and Fosters

Who needs a signature anyway......

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Leon Novello on March 24, 2025, 11:39 pm, in reply to "Price of beer...."

I have four bottles of Cabernet Merlot to work my way through; I may be some time.

Leon Novello

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by laverdabru on March 25, 2025, 12:36 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Enjoy!

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Tonupdave on March 25, 2025, 10:12 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Lots of pubs down here havegone to the wall it's all eateries now our village and the adjoining one
Three pubs one has been taken over by new people so it's very Twee and upmarket meals the others ar just normal they get a lot of customers so I'm told
A pub a just over a mile away is the only pub The Queen actually bought beer and paid for it out of her own purse that's at Topsham..

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 25, 2025, 10:22 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Pubs.
best pub I ever knew was back in the 1980s, The Queens head ,Cowden Pound Kent. Run by an old dear and her dog,Annie or elsie was her name,she had taken it over from her mum,served Whitbread Fremlins and was the best beer I ever had,drawn by hand from barrels in the cellar, exact same temparature on blazing hot day or freezing,pure nectar. Pub is still there and well worth a visit. no Fremlins no more though.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Tonupdave on March 25, 2025, 1:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

If you like a bit of history this is definitely true
My Aunt and Uncle run the Duke of St Albans pub Highgate Hill Mum a d I used to go there regularly in the fifties I obviously a little nipper
Mum bred rabbits and skinned and boned them and took them to the pub to sell she had them hanging inside her big overcoat
Aunt ( mums sister ) married Phil Turner who's family date back to the 1600s as inn keepers
Uncle Phil was a baby in the pub at Great Dorset Street when the Last body was found of Mary Kelly was found of The Ripper murders .. .. the father ( inn keeper ) was questioned by police detective Turner..
Once in the Duke of St Albans I was introduced to a gentleman that Mum knew he was Pierpoint the public hangman.
This is all documented in the family history now
Duke of St Albans now an Italian restaurant
Opposite Parliament hill Fields..

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Will on March 25, 2025, 2:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

In the early 1800s an ancestor of mine was the licensee of an inn in Garth in mid-Wales. Before the days of courts as we know them today there were itinerant English magistrates. Courts were held on Sundays so working people could attend, and held in any local building that could accommodate the proceedings. In Garth that was my ancestor’s inn.
One Sunday the magistrates asked to be served drinks, but my ancestor refused as in those days Wales was “dry” on Sundays. Not only would it be illegal to serve them but as a devout Chapel goer it was against his religious & moral beliefs. On the spot the enraged magistrates cancelled his licence to serve alcoholic drinks, depriving him of his livelihood.
He did manage to re-establish himself by moving to a coaching inn in nearby Builth Wells which was not subject to visiting magistrates and, as a hotel offering overnight accommodation for travellers, not subject to quite the same licencing laws.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by ChazzyB on March 25, 2025, 2:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Blimey, the Queens Arms (not Head) was still being run by Elsie (Annie's daughter) until 2014. It's only open for a few sessions a week. Still has a no lager policy, apparently.

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by ChazzyB on March 25, 2025, 2:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 25, 2025, 3:46 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Good you know off it ChazzyB,its a gem. It has its own facebook page now.
Years back the brewery tried to close it on account didn't sell enough beer, so those who knew it as a gem rallied round, I called in one night to find it full of beer swillers and a folk song thing going on, absolutely packed. when Elsie died a local well off bought it,hence restricted opening for a while.
I haven't been back since the 1990s but for me it is the real spirit of the English pub,like that other one near Dungeness.Forget its name. If all pubs were like that again I'd be happy to pay the price of pub beer.

Some of those old time landladies were a legend, one near me would not serve you if she didn't know you,"there's another pub down the road" was all you'd get.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by martin in the USA on March 26, 2025, 12:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

"Run by an old dear and her dog,Annie or elsie was her name,....."
It was Elsie

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 26, 2025, 8:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

when did you know it from?

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by martin in the USA on March 27, 2025, 12:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

I saw your comment, googled the pub, read the wiki page, saw the owner's name, made my entry, left for work. Woke up this morning and finished reading the thread. So, actually I just realized it 2 minutes ago. haha

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by ChazzyB on March 25, 2025, 2:38 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Four bottles? A long time? Amateur!

To advertise here, please call...

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Tonupdave on March 25, 2025, 3:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

The pub in Great Dorset Street on the left
The street was known as the worse street in London
No longer there now was bulldozed in the 1900

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by calidavid on March 26, 2025, 8:59 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Best character landlord round here used to be Bob at the 12 Bells, Cirencester. He once barred a customer for boring his customers, and kept a Guzzi Le Mans in the lobby.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by Al Sation on March 26, 2025, 9:12 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

blimey,if the landlady of my local banned the pub bores there would be nobody left! mind you,Sheila the landlady is retiring soon and she has been running it for 27 years. pub will shut for 2-3 weeks for a refurb,and the new landlady takes over. Nags Head Enderby,not a million miles from MadMike.

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by geoff the bonnie on March 26, 2025, 5:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

When i worked in a bar in 1974, beer was 14p a pint rising to 17p for the premium beer. The days we could get drunk for 1 pound

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by nek on March 26, 2025, 5:54 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

14p? you mean 2/11d?

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by laverdabru on March 26, 2025, 8:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

Think it went decimal in 1971...

Re: Price of beer....

Posted by geoff the bonnie on March 27, 2025, 9:50 am, in reply to "Re: Price of beer...."

It was metric in 1974 and that was Sandy Bay club prices. This club was very busy and mid summer, the bar takings were over 1000 pound each night. There used to be a fortnight when a midlands factory closed and many would come to the park. They would drink Merridew wine and averaged 4 gallons a night.
Good second job for me and 6 nights a week finishing at midnight then going to my day job at 8 am. This job enabled me to save a deposit for a house back then so a very important time back then. Wife also worked there as well as a day job.

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