Shock, horror or amazement, London is no longer the place that boasts the most expensive pint in the UK. Can you believe it?
According to the research for the new Good Pub Guide, the average pint in Surrey costs £4.40, which is a whole 20p more expensive than in the capital.
History has been made, as for the first time in the 36 year run of the annual pub guide, London has been knocked off the top spot in the list and is no longer the home of the most expensive pint in the UK.
And there’s only two things that matter, when it comes to getting a pint in Britain: where is the most expensive, and where is the cheapest.
Well here, we’re going to show you the 12 cheapest pints in the UK, pay close attention!
12. Dorset – £3.51
Home throughout history to some of the great writers such as Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, Sir Walter Raleigh and Enid Blyton, Dorset is a part of the UK rich in heritage and steeped in history, with human settlement dating all the way back to around 10,000 BC.
Dorset has seen a lot in its time – the plague, the English Civil War, the Vikings and even the London Olympics, but perhaps its biggest recent claim to fame, in my mind at least, is that Dorset boasts the 12th cheapest pint in the UK. That’s good news for away fans, given that the highest ranking football club from the area, Bournemouth, sit at the top table of the Premier League, and regularly welcomes visiting fans from around the country.
If you’re a fan of open fireplaces, a nice local ale and a cosy atmosphere, then Dorset has some of the best countryside pubs you could ever wish to visit.
11. Lancashire – £3.50
Lancashire is the home to a lot of things, from Burnley FC to Sir Ian McKellen, Victoria Wood, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Lancashire wrestling – which was so aggressive and violent that they tried to make sure the performers were looked after by introducing a law that prohibited breaking bones – Lancashire encompasses Preston and Lancaster and was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
Lancashire is also home to some of the finest pubs in this country, whether they be more in the city or of the countryside variety, with many of which have won awards in the industry.
So, couple that with the fact that the average cost of a pint in Lancashire is £3.50 – beating Dorset out by a single penny – makes it all the better to go and enjoy a few ales and some light conversation!
10 and 9. Staffordshire/Northamptonshire – £3.48
Coming in at joint 10 and 9, Staffordshire and Northamptonshire share the distinction of having some of the cheapest pints in the country. Home to two of the best theme parks in the UK – Alton Towers and Drayton Manor – Staffordshire has come a long way in its history from being pretty much a swamp in the middle ages, as well as being described in the 19th century by Arnold Bennett as being “lost in the midst of England.”
It is a county with towns and villages full of character and charms, but also plenty of countryside that allows any visitor to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and kick back and enjoy a slice of scenic England.
And not only that, the kids in Staffordshire will be pleased to hear just how cheap the prices of a pint are, given that the county is known for its university – Stafford University – and I can imagine how welcome those prices will be when fresher’s week rolls around in September!
Northamptonshire, along with Oxfordshire, is the home to about 50% of the manufacturing in Formula 1, as well as that, it was also the place where the first radar was invented.
There’s a lot of interesting little tidbits about Northamptonshire, for example, the first ever car chase recorded in Britain by the police occurred in Northampton in 1899. Also, it is home to the largest market square in Britain.
And along with Staffordshire, it can claim to have one of the cheapest pints in the country, at £3.48.
8. Leicestershire – £3.47
Leicestershire has given a lot to what we now consider modern England to be. And without the influence of the Anglo-Saxon and Viking relationship in what we would now consider the Leicester area to be, then we probably wouldn’t be speaking modern English.
As the historians say, the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings, after warring for a long time, eventually put their differences aside and started trading and sharing their language. Eventually, the two moulded together and the language eventually evolved into modern English.
Without that, we would probably be speaking an Anglo-Saxon hybrid, similar to German, to this very day.
But history aside, Leicestershire has enjoyed a lot of publicity in recent years, firstly with the discovery of the remains of Richard III – the last English king to die in battle – but also the historic and unprecedented march to the most unlikely Premier League title in the history of football for Leicester City.
Having just about survived relegation, and starting at 5000/1, Leicester defied every odd and achieved something that will almost certainly never happen again. Many pundits have said that not only was it the greatest achievement in football, it was arguably the greatest achievement in all of sporting history.
It put Leicester City on the map, and with that came a lot of business for the pubs, as you could imagine. So with Leicestershire offering the 8th cheapest pint in the country, I don’t think it would be a stretch to imagine that there was some serious partying done the night that they won the league.
7. Wales – £3.42
Okay, so this one may be a bit of a cheat, as it isn’t actually a county, but it is still a large part of Britain, and as well as boasting a rich history, dating all the way back to before the Roman invasion even, and also has some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the UK.
With a thriving tourist business, Wales is also home to some of the most wonderful little seaside towns in the UK. Not only that but with thriving cities such as the capital Cardiff – which hosted the Champions League final only last year – no matter how you like to enjoy your nights out – whether it be in a rammed nightclub or in a small cosy seaside pub, the 7th cheapest pint in Britain is waiting for you. Enjoy!
6. Northumbria – £3.40
Originally known as the Kingdom of Northumbria, Northumberland, as it is now known, is a county that mainly covers the North East of England.
It is one of the oldest known origins of humanity in this country, as the Kingdom of Northumbria was formed in the 7th century and lasted right up until just before the turn of the 2nd millennium.
But in more recent times, the area has attracted many great artists because of the beautiful landscapes, it gave the world Bobby and Jack Charlton and among many other amazing places of interest, it can boast one of the cheapest pints in Britain. So, as if you didn’t need a reason to visit anyway, while you’re there it might be a good idea to see for yourself, and have one on me!
5 and 4. Worcestershire/Cumbria – £3.38
We’re getting to the nitty-gritty of the list now, and from here you’ll start to really see where is the best place to go if you want a good time without breaking the bank.
One of the leafiest of all the leafy green counties, Worcestershire encompasses parts of the more industrial West Midlands but apart from that, the area is mostly rural, with even the city of Worcester being relatively small but a beautiful slice of the more rural parts of Britain.
But Worcestershire also boasts Worcester University, which has been recognised as the fastest growing university in the UK. And because Worcester is a relatively small town, it has almost become a student city in recent years, and boasts some amazing nightlife.
And that, of course, goes hand in hand with the price of a pint, with Worcester boasting the 5th cheapest pint in Britain.
And sharing the place for 5th place in the list of the cheapest pints in Britain is Cumbria. Sporting some of the greatest views, and some of the best places to go if you want to stay in the country, Cumbria is a place rich with history and local character. From the Lake District to the famous pubs, Cumbria boasts the deepest rivers, the highest peaks, the steepest roads and the most colourful characters in all the land.
And given that the American War of Independence, American soldiers were distracted by the famous ales, you might not be surprised to learn that Cumbria also has some of the cheapest pints in Britain.
3. Derbyshire – £3.36
The heart-shaped county right in the middle of England that neighbours Leicestershire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire, it is known for the city of Derby and for the Buxton spring.
Home to some of the best pubs in the land, with fine food, warm welcomes and cold beer, Derbyshire not only has some of the cheapest pints in the UK, but it is definitely worth a visit anyway. Now, you’ve got an excuse!
2. Shropshire – £3.33
Beating out Derbyshire to second place by a few pennies but narrowly missing out on the top spot, Shropshire has a long and interesting history. It was visited by boxing legend Joe Lewis during the second world war, home of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and a gold mine for geologists, Shropshire is always worth a visit if you fancy getting away from the hustle and bustle and sit by the fire and enjoy a pint – and a cheap one at that!.
1. Herefordshire – £3.31
And here you have it, the cheapest place in Britain to grab a pint at £3.31. So if you fancy going for either a quiet drink or a wild night out in Herefordshire, then you shouldn’t break the bank too much.
The birthplace of Frank Oz – voice of many of the legendary Muppets as well as Yoda, as well as Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber – Herefordshire can boast some of the most wonderful countryside anywhere in the country, so whatever you plan on doing, keep in mind that there’s always a pub nearby to grab a cheap pint!
Well, what are you still reading this for? Go get it!
