Thirsty Londoners are being hit in the wallet by the march of the £10 pint. But before you turn on your local landlord, look at the maths behind the bar.
For some pubs, every pint poured brings in just 17p profit. That means while punters are paying more than ever for a drink, many landlords are barely making enough to keep the lights on. And as the pressure grows, London’s locals are disappearing fast. The capital lost 115 pubs last year alone.
The price of a pint might be creeping towards double figures, but that does not mean landlords are cashing in.
PUNTERS PAY AND PUBS SUFFER
At the Rose and Crown in Kew, Tristan says running an independent pub has become a constant fight to stay afloat as stock prices, energy bills and business rates keep climbing.
“Ultimately, you are providing a service and it’s up to you to make money without rocking the price point too much,” he said.
That balancing act is getting harder by the day. When your margin is just 17p a pint, one slow night can do real damage.
London has lost more than 1,300 pubs since 2001, with rising costs, the impact of lockdown and higher business rates helping drive the decline.
LONDONERS ARE HITTING THEIR LIMIT
Drinkers are feeling the pressure too. Charlie Anton-Smith told City News that the classic London “session” is under pressure, with many punters now reaching breaking point at around £8 a pint.
Ed Marshall recently paid £7.70 for a drink in the capital and was not impressed.
“I wouldn’t say it was worth it,” he said. “But there aren’t exactly more affordable options in some areas of London anymore. It’s either pay the price or go home.”
And even people working in hospitality say the numbers are pushing them away from the pub.
“I am sadly very aware of how little money pubs actually make,” said Sienna Kinrade. “However, the increasing prices definitely make me lean more towards hosting things at houses or in parks.”
Customers know pubs are struggling. That does not mean they can afford to keep showing up week after week.
Pub-goers are feeling the pinch as the price of a pint keeps climbing across London.
SO WHO IS CASHING IN?
So if the landlord is getting 17p, where is the rest going?
Campaigners say a huge chunk is swallowed up by VAT, alcohol duty, business rates and soaring energy costs before independents see much of anything.
David Lands, regional chair for CAMRA London, says the squeeze is coming from government policy as much as the market. “It is never the publican’s fault,” he told City News.
“It is in the overheads. The business rates discount has been slashed from 75% to 40% and the rateable values for the pubs are set to jump by another 30% next year. There is no price cap on the energy bills pubs must pay.”
That leaves independent pubs fighting a battle they are not built to win.
“The budget groups, like Wetherspoons, pick up the business you lose,” Tristan said. “They buy end of life beer at heavily discounted rates. Sadly, I think customers will end up taking their business there and the unique character of our independent pubs will be lost forever.”
The Rose and Crown pub has been at the heart of the local community for many years
THE REAL PRICE OF THE £10 PINT
This is no longer just about whether a drink feels overpriced. It is about whether London can still afford its locals.
If the pub becomes a once-a-month luxury, the capital loses more than a night out. It loses the places where people gather, unwind and feel part of something beyond their flatshare or work chat.
“Knowing a pub only makes 17p makes me feel sympathy for the owners, but it does not make the pint feel like better value,” Ed said. “If the pub becomes a luxury, London loses part of what makes it worth going out in.”
That is the pint of no return for pubs across the capital. You pay nearly £10 at the bar. The pub keep’s 17p. And with that another London local edges closer to last orders.
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HeadlineLondon’s Boozers at the Pint of No Return: £10 for you, 17p for the pub
Short HeadlinePint of No Return: £10 for you, 17p for the pub
StandfirstCity News investigates where your money really goes when you buy a pint, and why so little stays with the pub
Thirsty Londoners are being hit in the wallet by the march of the £10 pint. But before you turn on your local landlord, look at the maths behind the bar.
For some pubs, every pint poured brings in just 17p profit. That means while punters are paying more than ever for a drink, many landlords are barely making enough to keep the lights on. And as the pressure grows, London’s locals are disappearing fast. The capital lost 115 pubs last year alone.
The price of a pint might be creeping towards double figures, but that does not mean landlords are cashing in.
PUNTERS PAY AND PUBS SUFFER
At the Rose and Crown in Kew, Tristan says running an independent pub has become a constant fight to stay afloat as stock prices, energy bills and business rates keep climbing.
“Ultimately, you are providing a service and it’s up to you to make money without rocking the price point too much,” he said.
That balancing act is getting harder by the day. When your margin is just 17p a pint, one slow night can do real damage.
London has lost more than 1,300 pubs since 2001, with rising costs, the impact of lockdown and higher business rates helping drive the decline.
LONDONERS ARE HITTING THEIR LIMIT
Drinkers are feeling the pressure too. Charlie Anton-Smith told City News that the classic London “session” is under pressure, with many punters now reaching breaking point at around £8 a pint.
Ed Marshall recently paid £7.70 for a drink in the capital and was not impressed.
“I wouldn’t say it was worth it,” he said. “But there aren’t exactly more affordable options in some areas of London anymore. It’s either pay the price or go home.”
And even people working in hospitality say the numbers are pushing them away from the pub.
“I am sadly very aware of how little money pubs actually make,” said Sienna Kinrade. “However, the increasing prices definitely make me lean more towards hosting things at houses or in parks.”
Customers know pubs are struggling. That does not mean they can afford to keep showing up week after week.
Pub-goers are feeling the pinch as the price of a pint keeps climbing across London.
SO WHO IS CASHING IN?
So if the landlord is getting 17p, where is the rest going?
Campaigners say a huge chunk is swallowed up by VAT, alcohol duty, business rates and soaring energy costs before independents see much of anything.
David Lands, regional chair for CAMRA London, says the squeeze is coming from government policy as much as the market. “It is never the publican’s fault,” he told City News.
“It is in the overheads. The business rates discount has been slashed from 75% to 40% and the rateable values for the pubs are set to jump by another 30% next year. There is no price cap on the energy bills pubs must pay.”
That leaves independent pubs fighting a battle they are not built to win.
“The budget groups, like Wetherspoons, pick up the business you lose,” Tristan said. “They buy end of life beer at heavily discounted rates. Sadly, I think customers will end up taking their business there and the unique character of our independent pubs will be lost forever.”
The Rose and Crown pub has been at the heart of the local community for many years
THE REAL PRICE OF THE £10 PINT
This is no longer just about whether a drink feels overpriced. It is about whether London can still afford its locals.
If the pub becomes a once-a-month luxury, the capital loses more than a night out. It loses the places where people gather, unwind and feel part of something beyond their flatshare or work chat.
“Knowing a pub only makes 17p makes me feel sympathy for the owners, but it does not make the pint feel like better value,” Ed said. “If the pub becomes a luxury, London loses part of what makes it worth going out in.”
That is the pint of no return for pubs across the capital. You pay nearly £10 at the bar. The pub keep’s 17p. And with that another London local edges closer to last orders.
The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed cases of the water-borne disease in parts of North-West and South-West London but are yet to identify a source.
