Guinness Pint Set to Hit £10 as Price Hikes Rock UK Pubs
Horse racing fans and pub regulars face a brewing storm as the cost of a pint of Guinness is expected to rocket to a whopping £10 in the coming years. Publicans and drinkers alike are worried this iconic Irish stout will soon be out of reach for many.
Pub Owners Slam Diageo Over “Unfair” Price Jumps
After last year’s scare over a Guinness shortage led to a pub rush, a fresh crisis is bubbling up. Diageo, the giant behind Guinness, Smirnoff, and Gordon’s Gin, has been accused by pub owners of slapping on unexplained, “unfair” price hikes.
Pauline Forster, who runs The George Tavern in London, told The Telegraph:
“They put the prices up all the time with no explanation. There is nobody to ring up and you can’t even get a reply on the website.”
With Guinness still Britain’s favourite beer, the price surge hits just as demand spikes during the Six Nations rugby and the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Festival: Drink and Entry Prices Soaring
- Last year, around 300,000 pints of Guinness were guzzled at Cheltenham.
- The 2025 festival expects over 280,000 racegoers ready to party.
- Guinness pints were priced at £7.50 in 2024 to keep fans happy.
- But inflation of 2.5% could push pints to £10 by 2035, Racing Post reports.
- Entry tickets start at £57 for 2024, with premium seats at £207.
- By 2035, tickets could rise to £70-£255, based on past trends.
The Skyrocketing Overall Cost of a Race Day
It’s not just the beer and the tickets—travel costs are rising too. A return train ticket London to Cheltenham Spa clocks in around £50 now, but this could hit £61 by 2035 with a 2% yearly hike.
One Cheltenham regular lamented:
“It’s part of the tradition to have a pint of Guinness at the races, but at £10 a pint, it might turn into more of a luxury than a ritual.”
Diageo Faces Growing Backlash
With publicans furious and customers tightening their belts, Diageo is under pressure to explain the soaring prices. The hospitality trade calls for transparency and fairer costs to keep Guinness on tap for everyone.
For now, pubs and punters are bracing for the impact, hoping these beloved festivals don’t become too pricey for the fans who make them legendary.
