How often have you been to the pub lately without having a small rant about the cost of drinks these days? It’s hard not to. Wherever you are in the UK, the price of a pint can be pretty painful. But it’s an even more sobering fact that how much you pay for your lager, ale or stout largely depends on what part of the country you’re in.
Business management consultancy CGA has crunched some numbers and revealed the cheapest and most expensive places in the UK for buying a pint. And while it doesn’t make for pleasant reading, the good news is that it’s at least a little better than it was at the end of last year.
The data showed that, across the UK, the average cost of a pint right now is £4.60 – 19p less than what the Retail Price Index put it at back in September.
Wales emerged as the most budget-friendly place for a bevvy with an average price of £4.21. The north east of England was the next most affordable region with an average pint costing £4.21.
On the flipside, in a surprise to absolutely no one, London is home to the priciest pints of all. According to CGA, the average cost of a beer in the capital is £5.44 (15p down on the September 2024 price), however punters could find themselves paying as much as £8.
The second most expensive region for a pint is the south east of England with an average cost of £4.94, closely followed by the south west where you can sink an ale for (on average) £4.93.
The average cost of a pint in every UK region, according to CGA (most to least expensive)
- London: £5.44
- South East: £4.94
- South West: £4.93
- East England: £4.56
- West Midlands: £4.42
- East Midlands: £4.42
- North West: £4.42
- Yorkshire and the Humber: £4.42
- Scotland: £4.42
- Northern Ireland: £4.42
- North East: £4.28
- Wales: £4.21
ICYMI: Everywhere you can get a pint for £6 or less in central London.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country