Beer drinkers in the North and South of the UK face a stark divide on prices, with the cost of a pint in central London three times higher than the country’s cheapest towns.
According to an analysis by CGA that surveyed 865 areas, the average pint in Britain’s cheapest town – Consett near Newcastle – is just £2.65, a fraction of central London’s average of £6.63.
The typical price for a pint was under £3 in Blaydon, Tyne and Wear; Ferryhill, County Durham; and Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, which were among the cheapest of the areas surveyed.
Meanwhile, the most expensive pints are found in the capital and its surrounding areas, with eight of the 10 most expensive areas in London, along with Virginia Water in Surrey and Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire.
Varying business rates, rents, and wages are the key reasons for price differences, albeit customers’ willingness to pay also plays a part.
Separate data from CGA shows the average price of a pint has almost doubled in 15 years, having risen from £2.30 in 2008 to £4.30 in summer 2023.
The cost of a pint would be £3.55 if it had risen in line with average prices for consumer goods since 2008.
