Cost of pint to rise by 40p when energy support is cut, say pubs

THE cost of the average pint of beer could rise by more than 40p when government energy bill support is reduced in April, pub bosses have warned.

Pub and restaurant trade association UK Hospitality said many of its members plan to raise their prices by 6pc to 10pc when the scheme draws to a close.

With the average pint of lager costing £4.24 as of December, according to Office for National Statistics figures, a 10pc rise would price a pint at £4.66.

The average price of a 175ml glass of wine would rise from £4.29 to £4.72. In London, where the average price of a pint was £5.99 in 2022, according to recent data from Finder, a 10pc rise would take a pint to £6.59.

Kate Nicholls, the UK Hospitality chief executive, said: “Our venues have been ravaged by cost increases in every area, whether that’s energy, food, drink or recruitment.” In the last 12 months, pub owners surveyed by UK Hospitality with the British Beer & Pub Association, British Institute of Innkeeping and Hospitality Ulster said they raised food prices by 13pc and drink prices by 12pc.

The Government has unveiled plans for a two-tier system of discounts from April 1. A greater discount will be available for businesses that use a lot of energy – but hospitality companies are not included in that bracket.

A Business department spokesman said the Government was providing non-domestic energy users with £18bn worth of help this winter and support would continue after April, but “at a lower rate to reflect recent price trends and to reduce taxpayer exposure to volatile energy markets”.