£4 a pint fears allayed


28 December 2007 15:00

The city's pub bosses and real ale campaigners have allayed fears the price of a pint of beer hit £4 next year.

Drinkers are being warned to expect to pay more because of a hike in the price of key ingredients and other beer production bills.

The global shortage of hops and barley, which has resulted in brewers having to pay up to three times more than last year, has been blamed on the wet summer and swathes of extra farmland being used for biofuel crops.

The predicted hike in the price of a pint comes as beer sales in pubs have slumped to their lowest level since the 1930s, with industry experts suggesting 14m fewer pints a day are being served in pubs than in the past.

But Martin Ward, vice-chairman of the Norwich and Norfolk Campaign for Real Ale, said today: “I cannot see the price going up to £4, which is a bit of scaremongering, but the prices will probably go up because the price of hops and barley is going up.

“It's a very worrying time, and while real ale seems to be doing better than its competitors, the whole drinks trade is at its lowest ebb for decades.

“The smoking ban has hit sales, and while this might not be the final nail in the coffin, it might lead to a rise in pub closures.

“What we are trying to do nationally is lobby for a reduction in tax on beer.”

Phil Cutter, landlord at the Murderers' Arms in Timberhill, in the city centre, said he had just posted the best Christmas takings in 22 years, but was still concerned for the future.

He said: “If they put beer prices up 50p a pint that would devastate the whole industry.

“The next 12 months is going to be a difficult period for a lot of pubs, and I know a few pubs that may fall by the wayside.

“Although we've had our best ever Christmas for takings, there will come a time when people realise they don't have enough money in their pockets.

“I would like to see prices come down when there's a fantastic year for hops and barley.”

Norwich pub historian Derek McDonald said he expected prices to go up, but not to £4 a pint.

“£4 a pint would just close things down altogether,” he said. “I pay about £2.30/£2.40 a pint now at my local, The Kings Arms, in Hall Road, and I cannot see it going up another £1.60 next year.”

The region's brewers have also laughed off “scaremongering” suggestions that the average cost of a pint of bitter would rise from £2.20 to £4 next year, saying that prices were more likely to go up by about 10p to 15p a pint.

Are you trying to save your local from closure? Ring reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.

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