Energy crisis could push cost of a pint to £20

CAMRA chief executive Tom Stainer added the sector “urgently” needed an energy price cap from the ingoing Prime Minister​.

This comes as 90% of operators had received energy quotes at least 100% higher compared to what they were paying now according to a flash poll​ conducted earlier this month by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII).

Urgent intervention 

Stainer said: “Beer and pub businesses are facing increases in energy ​bills of around 500% - but they simply cannot increase their prices by the same amount or we would end up with a £15 or £20 pint at the bar. 

“Clearly this would be completely unrealistic. This situation shows the need for the new Prime Minister to urgently intervene and introduce an energy ​price cap for hospitality businesses.”

Furthermore, research conducted earlier this month by the Morning Advertiser (MA​)​ found 70% of operators were not expecting their business to survive the winter.

This follows chef and business owner Tom Kerridge​ last week stating pubs would need to charge around £35 a pint to keep up with energy prices.

Lack of help

Kerridge also warned hospitality businesses could close for the winter amid “ludicrous” energy ​prices, with the renowned chef explaining one of his restaurants had been quoted an increase of £30,000, rising from £5,000 to £35,000, a month for its electricity.

Stainer added: “It would be a travesty if the UK’s world-famous pubs and breweries which survived the pandemic were forced to close for good due to a lack of help from the Government to cope with the energy bills crisis. 

“That’s why CAMRA will this week be urging our 160,000 members to contact their MPs to demand support ​for an urgent energy bills support package to save the nation’s pubs and breweries.”