Charles Wells announces 2% price increase on its beers

In a statement, the pub company and brewer said: “Our prices are influenced by a number of factors and we've done what we can to keep them as low as possible whilst continuing to develop additional support plans for customers.

"Our commitment to working with customers to stimulate interest, drive trial and purchase of our beers remains strong as we continue to develop new beers that deliver increased profit margins for licensees and explore marketing initiatives that target increased rate of sale to support and strengthen their business."

Punch has refused to disclose its 2016 prices to the Publican’s Morning Advertiser​, but Enterprise and Marston’s confirmed they were raising prices by 1.9% and 1.8% respectively following the announcement of wholesale price rises by major brewers.

Licensees have been urged to ‘stand together and fight price increases’ by Banwell House Pub Company managing director Toby Brett, one of eight operators who penned an open letter​ to Chancellor George Osborne arguing there was no justification for higher prices from brewers.

Molson Coors raised wholesale prices by approximately 3.5p per pint and Heineken by an average of 2.5p. However, Greene King said it would hold its own brewed beer prices and Suffolk brewer Adnams followed suit earlier this month, saying it could not ignore ‘troubling’ closure rates.