Industry insiders are warning that soaring beer prices across the UK means the price of a pint could rise by 50p.
With an increasing number of pubs currently under pressure to stay afloat and at risk of going bust due to the rising costs of beer, energy, food, and labour as the hospitality industry continues to wade through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s believed that consumers across the country – including in Greater Manchester – could start having to pay more for a pint.
According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the average price of a pint in the UK is £4.07, but in Manchester, around £3.93 is said to be a more common cost.
In the capital, the association says Londoners pay £4.84 on average, but some pubs are said to already be charging over £6, and if the cost of a pint does could go up by a maximum of 50p as is estimated, then this means customers may have to pay over £7
Trade organisation UKHospitality said pubs were facing “unprecedented” price rises.
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Earlier this week, the chairman of the City Pub Company Clive Watson said that ‘pub inflation’ was currently running at about 10%.
Kate Nicholls – Chief Executive UK Hospitality – explained: “This is weighing very heavily on these businesses, which have had nothing but a torrid time, and the price of a pint and a meal out will have to rise.”
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Nik Antona – CAMRA’s National Chairman – said the sector is continuing to deal with a crisis in “employment, supply chain, and cost of goods”, which is causing the price of a pint to rise, and admitted that: “This could spell disaster at the pump for small brewers and publicans if consumers make the decision to stay at home to cut corners.”
Pubs were facing “unprecedented” price rises / Credit: Max Pixel
Pub landlords across the country are already telling of their recent need to hike pint prices, and are expressing their concerns at this continuing.
Dave Mountford, co-founder of the Forum of British Pubs and manager at The Boat Inn in Derbyshire, warned that drinkers will face rises of more than 50p, adding: “We’re putting prices up now and soon we’ll break the £4 a pint on cask ale for the first time ever.
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“Our most expensive pint is a premium lager and it’s £4.80 – it was £3.75 two years ago.”
James Calder – Chief Executive of Society of Independent Brewers – explained: “We have seen huge spikes in people costs, transport, raw ingredients, and energy, and with most brewers running very tight ships already, our sector unfortunately needs to be able to pass on these price rises to customers including the pubs in between, otherwise they will go bust.
“No business likes to raise its prices but right now it is a necessity to survive.”
Because of all these constraints, industry experts have urged the government to scrap the 12.5% VAT rate on pubs, restaurants and hotels, and have called for the scheduled rise back up to 20% in April to be scrapped, as they claim these measures could help ease pressure.
Featured Image – Unsplash
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IKEA is hosting a massive pyjama day with free breakfasts and £15 discounts this weekend
Emily Sergeant
IKEA is hosting a massive pyjama day at stores across the UK this weekend, and it sounds like the perfect excuse for a lazy day.
Don’t you just wish it was socially acceptable to wear your pyjamas in public sometimes?
Well now you can actually get away with it for once, as Swedish furniture retailer IKEA is hosting one of the most unique shopping experiences there is this weekend, and is inviting customers to ditch their daywear and don their favourite PJs instead.
Promising to be “a fun day out for all the family”, IKEA’s Pyjama Day is the perfect opportunity to shop for all your home needs in the most comfortable attire imaginable.
IKEA is hosting a massive pyjama day this weekend / Credit: IKEA
In a move that’s sure to be a bit of a dream come true for lazy Mancs, all late risers and loungewear lovers can get themselves down to either the Ashton or Warrington IKEA stores to make the most of all the cosy action.
Anyone signed up to be an ‘IKEA Family’ member who visits their local store wearing pyjamas this weekend can help themselves to a free breakfast of either a small cooked Full English or a breakfast roll, with veggie and vegan options available, or any children’s breakfast for those under 16.
That’s not all either, as pyjama-clad shoppers will also be able to snag an exclusive £15 discount when they spend £50 or more in-store on the same day.
If all of that wasn’t enough to get you down there as it is, there’s also set to be a special visit from BJÖRN bear in the restaurant for little ones, as well as loads of other free events in stores nationwide to get yourselves stuck into.
To bag your free breakfast and £15 discount, you just need to become an ‘IKEA Family’ member first by signing up for free on the IKEA website to unlock access to a range of exclusive deals and benefits, as well as up to 20% off on IKEA ‘Sleep Essentials’ until Monday 30 September.
To turn up in your PJs though? That’s open to all.
IKEA Pyjama Day is taking place at stores nationwide this Saturday 7 September, and you can find out more on the IKEA website here.
Featured Image – IKEA
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Costa, Greggs, and more unveil 2024 autumn menus full of new toasties, cakes, and seasonal drinks
Emily Sergeant
Tasty toasties, cakes, seasonal drinks, and more all feature on the new 2024 autumn menus at a handful of popular high street coffee shop chains.
As summer draws to a close and the colder months edge closer, it’s not uncommon the high street’s best-loved coffee shop chains to unveil their limited-edition autumn menus around this time to help get us in the spirit.
Thankfully, Costa, Greggs, Starbucks, and Pret have all delivered so far.
Chicken and chorizo paninis, hog roast toasties, salt beef baguettes, salted caramel chocolate cakes, stem ginger cookies, and pumpkin spice doughnuts are just a selection of the mouthwatering foodie treats forming part of the new seasonal menus that you’ll soon be able to tuck into at each of the chains.
And of course, what would autumn be without pumpkin spice lattes? The cult-classic drink is now on the menu in both hot and cold format at Greggs, Pret, and its original home, Starbucks.
Costa, Greggs, and more have unveiled their new autumn menus for 2024 / Credit: Costa
Over at Costa, there’s a wide range of new items having been added to the lineup for the next couple of months, with some of the highlights being the Brie, Bacon, and Chilli Jam Panini, the Chilli Beef and Cheddar Toastie, a Sticky Pecan Mini Loaf, and a spooky iced gingerbread ghost biscuit, perfect for little ones or as a sweet snack.
Alongside the newbies, Costa’s fan-favourite Hog Roast Toastie, Roast Chicken and Bacon Sandwich, and Chocolate and Salted Caramel Cake will also be returning, as will the massively-popular Maple Hazel drinks range.
At Greggs, there’s a stunning selection of pumpkin spice treats to choose from, including the Pumpkin Spice Doughnut and classic Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as other seasonal hot drinks like the Orange Mocha and Orange Hot Chocolate, and the much-loved Salted Caramel Latte, while when it comes to savoury options, there’s a new Mexican Bean and Spicy Cheese Flatbread, and an All-Day Breakfast Baguette to see you through the day.
The limited-edition menus are full of tasty toasties, sweet treats, and seasonal drinks / Credit: Pret | Greggs
Pret has also joined the pumpkin spice and salted caramel bandwagon for another year, with both lattes returning yet again, but some of the stand-out new additions to its menu include the Mushroom Florentine Toastie, the Beef & Horseradish Baguette, the Cinnamon Crown, and Spiced Apple & Pecan Muffin.
Starbucks is yet to fully unveil its new autumn menu, but is expected to do so very soon so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
However, what we do know is that the original Pumpkin Spice Latte is already back in all its glory.
Greggs and Pret’s new autumn menus are now available to tuck into for a limited time only, while Costa’s launches nationwide this Thursday (5 September), and Starbucks will be in due course.