Cask ale drinkers are facing a significant price rise as a new survey shows several popular brands have broken the £5 mark for the first time. The survey, conducted by The Morning Advertiser, reveals that Timothy Taylor’s Landlord is now the most expensive cask ale on average at £5.42 per pint — a 30p increase over the past 12 months.
Which cask ales have crossed the £5 line?
According to the research, Landlord is the only brand to exceed £5.40 on average, but it is not alone in topping the £5 threshold. Tribute Pale Ale has also averaged over £5, coming in at £5.07.
The survey also found that other leading cask ales are not far behind:
- Timothy Taylor’s Landlord — £5.42 (up 30p year-on-year)
- Tribute Pale Ale — £5.07
- Pedigree and Hobgoblin — £4.98 each
- Abbott Ale — £4.93
- Doom Bar — £4.77
These figures suggest that the £5 pint, once unthinkable for cask ale, is becoming the new normal in many pubs across England. Cask ale, traditionally seen as a more affordable option compared to lager or premium craft beers, is now subject to the same inflationary pressures affecting the wider hospitality sector.
Business rates cut welcomed by pub sector
News of the price hikes comes as the new Labour government, led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, announced a significant cut to business rates for pubs, social clubs and live music venues across England. The 20% discount, which follows an emergency business rates relief package introduced in January, is expected to save the average pub more than £1,000 a year.
Industry body UK Hospitality said the announcement showed that Burnham’s enthusiasm for the sector had “survived his trip down the M1” — a reference to his move from Manchester to Downing Street. The measure is part of a series of policy announcements made within the first three days of the new government, signalling a strong commitment to supporting the hospitality industry.
Industry calls for further VAT reduction
While the business rates relief has been broadly welcomed, some hospitality leaders argue that more fundamental tax reform is needed to offset rising costs. Andy Lennox, founder of Hospitality Voices, said: “The long-term solution is a reduction in VAT for hospitality in line with our European competitors.”
Lennox’s comments highlight the ongoing pressure on pubs, which face rising energy costs, supply-chain inflation and increased wages. The combination of higher wholesale beer prices and overheads is being passed on to consumers, as the survey’s findings confirm. Pubs have also had to absorb the cost of the recent national living wage increase, further squeezing margins.
No 10 North: a new “situation room”
In a separate announcement, the Prime Minister described the creation of a new “No 10 North” office as a “situation room” for improving Britain. “For 40 years, power and resources have been sucked into the centre and too many communities have felt forgotten, without the attention and investment they deserve,” Burnham said.
“No 10 North will change that by putting more power into every postcode across the entire country. It will be the situation room for making Britain better, the place to get power out of Westminster, into the hands of people at a local level, so that they can turn things around.”
The new office is expected to play a key role in implementing regional policies, including the business rates relief, and could help address regional disparities in the hospitality sector. For pub-goers, the combination of price increases and government support will determine whether the £5 pint becomes a permanent feature of Britain’s high streets.
