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Map reveals cheapest place in UK for a pint as punters lose out over short pours

24 May 2024 , 10:14
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Scroll down for the map showing where the cheapest pints are
Scroll down for the map showing where the cheapest pints are

THE country's cheapest places to buy a pint can be revealed, helping punters cheated by short-pouring bounce back.

Boozer and bar goers are being stung up to £114 a year due to short-measuring of their wine and beer - but this map shows the best places to get back bang for buck.

Punters are being stung their fair beer value, but a map reveals the cheapest places to drink eiqehixkiddqprw
Punters are being stung their fair beer value, but a map reveals the cheapest places to drink
Data shows cheapest places to get pints in a win for punters
Data shows cheapest places to get pints in a win for punters

Using data from Numbeo, Coventry claims the crown as the cheapest place for a pint on average.

It's the only place in the UK offering a jar for less than £4, coming in at £3.89.

Next comes Newcastle at £4.11, with coastal Swansea rounding out the podium at £4.36.

Widow brings pillow with late husband's face on it to pub every New Year's EveWidow brings pillow with late husband's face on it to pub every New Year's Eve

In Scotland, Aberdeen averages £4.39 per pint, while Reading, home to the famous festival, is not far behind at £4.44.

Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Dundee, Preston, Cardiff and Bournemouth all offer £4.45.

On the other side of the ledger, London unsurprisingly holds the unwanted mantle of most dear - at £6.74.

Beachside Brighton (£6.66) is on the capital's heels, with Oxford (£5.80) and Belfast (£5.78) next.

Edinburgh and Manchester are both slightly less expensive at £5.57.

It comes after testers found beer drinkers were only getting 96 per cent of their pint each time it was poured.

This is due to bar staff not filling glasses to the brim, despite the head being legally included in the measurement.

Meanwhile, wine lovers were found to be missing out on five per cent each glass.

These little losses add up overtime, building to a loss of between £88 and £114 for the average drinker.

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As many as seven out of 10 drinks are poured short in the UK, according to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

The researchers tested 137 drinks, finding 96 of them to be short-poured.

The CTSI found the worst offenders in Windsor & Maidenhead, discovering a 10 per cent pint deficit for a £6.50 spend.

A 9.9 per cent shortfall was found in Walsall, although that pint was £3.40, with a 9.3 per cent drawback in Swansea for £4.45.

The CTSI said: "There is more to work to be done in ensuring that customers get what they pay for.

"We are calling on the hospitality sector to ensure customers are getting value for their money by correctly measuring the drinks they are serving in the nation's bar and pubs."

Newcastle beer drinker Ciaran Jeffrey was shattered to learn of the trend.

The landscaper said: "I'm pure devastated. I'm not going to lie, I feel ripped off. It's a liberty.

"It puts a damper on it, especially now that I know I'm missing out on that much money.

"It's a lot of money, especially when people have kids and they could spend it on other things.

"It's going to make have a closer look at my pint."

Meanwhile, Stuart Hughes from Middlesbrough said he already knew of the dark arts happening behind the bar.

Stuart said: "I have noticed some of my pints have been pulled short.

"My brother was a landlord and he used to tell the staff to pull pints short as it saves a lot of money over the year.

"If you are in a rush on Friday or Saturday night you would just accept it, so pubs can get away with it.

"It's a lot of money to lose, everything adds up these days.

"I might have to start asking for my pint to be topped up. You wouldn't buy a packet of biscuits if there was one missing, would you?"

Labour MP Jess Phillips, also vice-president of the CTSI, said: “The cost of living means people can hardly afford a drink and to discover you’re being served short measures adds insult to injury.

"You should get what you pay for.”

Nik Antona, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, added: “Consumers shouldn’t have to feel short-changed when they support their favourite pubs, clubs and taprooms.

“The idea that 80 per cent of all beer bought at the bar is being short measured in the UK is extremely concerning. You are well within your rights to ask the bar staff for an immediate top-up.”

The CTSI has called on pubs to start pouring the full pint
The CTSI has called on pubs to start pouring the full pint
Beer drinkers are missing out on the full pint in most cases, according to the research
Beer drinkers are missing out on the full pint in most cases, according to the research

Owen Leonard

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