Outrage erupted this week when a Mayfair establishment was caught charging £11 for a pint of Moretti — not a special craft brew, just a standard lager. But as City Editor Simon Hunt points out, it is unfair to blame London's pubs, which face insurmountable costs driving up prices.
Why Pints Are So Expensive
"Pubs have had it hard the past few years. Many are on their knees and hundreds have closed," writes Hunt. "The sector has muddled through Covid lockdowns, soaring inflation, punishing tax hikes, business rate upgrades, and minimum wage rises that have pushed pubs to the brink." He adds that clickbaity headlines saying 'pubs are a rip-off' are unhelpful. Data shows the average pint in London costs £5.77, with many areas still under £5.
Yet for many City AM readers, an £8 pint is common. Rounds among friends have shrunk — spending £20–30 is one thing, but £50 for a few drinks feels obscene. These prices ruin the spontaneity of an after-work pint.
Heroes Keeping the £5 Pint Alive
Some London pubs are working overtime to preserve the £5 pint, even if it means losing money. Tom Peake, co-owner of Three Cheers Pub Co., says: "Prices for everything seem crazy. We want to support locals popping to the pub affordably. The Trafalgar's £5 Pour offsets the madness." His secret? "We take a bit of a hit by lowering prices at off-peak times."
Ed Martin of Long Arm Brewery & Tap Room in Shoreditch serves £5 pints all day. "With the squeeze on discretionary spend, we wanted to make the pint affordable for everyone," he says. Brewing his own beer allows exceptional efficiency. He adds: "£8 a pint is an unfortunate reality until the disastrous economic policies of the current Government are reversed."
At The Blue Posts in Soho, co-founder Layo Paskin launched a £5 Happy Hour daily from 4–6pm. "We think of it less as a financial calculation and more as an act of hospitality. The connection people feel is worth more than optimising every cover."
Where to Find a £5 Pint
- Liverpool Street Chop House & Tavern: Permanent £5 pints of Chop House Lager and City Porter. 16 New St, EC2M 4TR.
- Paternoster Tavern: £5 pints Mon–Fri noon to close. 47 Ludgate Hill, EC4M 7JU.
- Long Arm Brewery: £5 pints all day, every day. 20-26 Worship St, EC2A 2DX.
- The Trafalgar, King's Road: Weekday Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4–6:30pm with £5 lager, ale, cider.
- The Blue Posts, Rupert Street: £5 Happy Hour Mon–Sat 4–6pm.
- Molly Blooms, Dalston: Fosters for £4.90. 525 Kingsland Rd, E8 4AR.
- The Hat & Tun, Farringdon: £5 pints all day, every day. 3 Hatton Wall, EC1N 8HX.
These pubs prove that even in tough times, affordable pints are still possible in London.
