ONE of Britain’s biggest pub chains is ramping up the price of a pint by as much as 45p.
The hike by Marston’s Brewery is likely to see the cost of a beer break the £4 barrier in many areas for the first time.
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The firm, which owns six breweries and operates more than 1,500 pubs, is introducing rises of between 20p and 45p.
With the current UK average for a pint being £3.96, drinkers are in for a shock in parts of the Midlands and the North.
Boozers in Leeds at present are paying £3.83, with Coventry at £3.86, Sheffield £3.87 and Northampton £3.91.
London has the average price of a pint at £6 while in Edinburgh it is £5.10, Bristol £4.52, Liverpool £4.48 and Birmingham £4.46 — all breaking the £4 barrier in recent years.
Snack ban binned
THE ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals on popular snacks is set to be dropped to help ease the cost-of-living crisis.
Ministers have been ordered to comb through all their policies to tackle anything that risks pushing up prices.
The plan to ban BOGOF offers on food high in sugar, salt or fat was described as insane by Whitehall insiders.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng also wants to ditch red tape that forces firms to record all the hours staff work.
And environment chief George Eustice will slash the cost of fertilisers, which pushes up food prices
A spokesman for Marston’s said: “The price increase is a direct impact of the soaring energy prices and operating costs as being experienced by all businesses and households across the country.”
Draught ale this year has suffered its biggest price jump since records began, says the Office for National Statistics.
A pint is up more than six per cent compared to before the pandemic when the average cost was £3.73.
Industry chiefs blame the closure of bars during the Covid lockdowns and spiralling costs faced by pub landlords.
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Goodbye to cheap milk
THE UK boss of dairy giant Arla yesterday warned shoppers: “We are calling time on cheap milk.”
Ash Amirahmadi spoke as his company set out a five-year strategy to boost profitability of fresh milk.
He said farmers had faced squeezed prices for years and were being hit by rocketing costs of fuel and fertiliser.
In the past ten years, consumer prices had gone up 26 per cent as a whole but the price of milk has dropped by seven per cent, he explained.
Mr Amirahmadi said that it could take time for costs to be passed to shoppers — but over the next five years things were likely to change.
Nik Antona, from the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Our pubs have been under significant financial pressure following two years of lockdowns, restrictions and partial closures, which is feeding these increases.
“From rising energy bills and the cost of goods going up, to VAT increases and the end of business rates holidays, pub owners are feeling the squeeze from all sides.”
Mr Antona added: “It’s going to be a very tricky few years for our locals and more support is urgently needed to help these vital community hubs weather the storm.”
Steve Alton, from the British Institute of Innkeeping, said publicans’ “margins are being squeezed across every area” — forcing them to pass on costs to drinkers.
‘Dont be a fuel fool’
DRIVERS have been urged to boycott petrol stations who refuse to cut prices.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Help us with this, shop around so they learn that if they don’t pass this on, they are going to lose business.”
Research by the AA found that petrol prices have only fallen by just 2.71p and diesel by a 1.59p since Wednesday’s 5p duty reduction.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng held a call with petrol station giants yesterday to order them to act in line with the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.
