Almost a third of pubs hike beer prices by more than 5%
The poll showed 97 of the 320 respondents had increased prices by more than 5% at their pubs during this time while 21% (67) raised costs by less than 5%.
Additionally, almost a quarter (23%) of operators (72) increased prices by more than 10% while 12% (38) of voters had raised beer prices by less than 10% and 14% (46) had not increased prices at all.
Increased prices
Data from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) last month showed the average cost of a pint of draught lager had increased 1.9% in the three months to January 2023, equating to an additional 8p per serve.
Bitter also saw an increase during the same period, rising by 0.8% or 3p a pint.
Additionally, BrewDog CEO James Watt recently warned if prices increased in line with energy costs a pint of the brand’s Punk IPA would cost £27.50.
No choice
This comes as the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) today (Wednesday 1 March) warned some two-thousands pubs and breweries were at risk of closing without a “sustainable plan for growth” announced in the upcoming Spring Budget.
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) cational Chairman Nik Antona said: "With energy bills for businesses going through the roof and the cost of goods and employing staff rocketing too, pubs and the breweries that serve them have had no choice but to put up prices in order to make ends meet.
"If the Government doesn’t use the Spring Budget to change its plans to slash help for pubs with energy costs from April, then we risk seeing further price hikes at the bar - or more pub closures.”
