What's your local charging for a pint now?

garrettod · 08-06-2021 1:48am #1

Hi,

I was wondering if the pubs have all stuck their prices up, to coincide with opening back up (albeit only outdoors, to begin with). ?

A friend told me that Gibneys in Malahide were now charging €6.25 for a pint of Guinness - which sounds like a right price hike.

So, what's you local charging?

Effects · 08-06-2021 7:59am

€5.50 at the Sheds in Clontarf.

irish_goat · 08-06-2021 8:56am

My usual spot in Derry put their pint prices up by 50p. Food has gone up even more, about £2 per main course.

LMHC · 08-06-2021 9:02am

irish_goat wrote: »

My usual spot in Derry put their pint prices up by 50p. Food has gone up even more, about £2 per main course.

What's the general price in the north for a pint.

irish_goat · 08-06-2021 9:40am

LMHC wrote: »

What's the general price in the north for a pint.

Average pint of macro in Derry is around £4. You're talking a little bit more in the fancier bars and about an average of £4.50 for a craft pint.

Belfast is all over the shop but prices are close to £6 for some beers.

See Twitter thread below.

https://twitter.com/brendanjharkin/status/1395446685137096705

oisinog · 08-06-2021 9:40am

LMHC wrote: »

What's the general price in the north for a pint.

Good question some places in Belfast £6 down in the Glens where I am from about £4 both for a Guinness

LMHC · 08-06-2021 9:46am

oisinog wrote: »

Good question some places in Belfast £6 down in the Glens where I am from about £4 both for a Guinness

6 pound holy ****. That's pricier then dublin

spurshero · 08-06-2021 9:51am

4.80 for Guinness 5.50 for Heineken carlsberg etc where I was in Galway city yesterday

greensausage · 08-06-2021 9:53am

Prices seemed to be the same in carrick on Shannon yesterday as they were pre lockdown, about a fiver for a pint.

08-06-2021 10:19am

My local only put the Guinness up from 4.50 during the last lockdown so hoping they dont add to it again.

4.50 was the lowest possible price in town here so it wasnt that surprising.
I think it was 4.60 or 4.70 when I last went.

antimatterx · 08-06-2021 10:30am

If they start price gouging I simply won't go back.

I know it was a tough yearn for then, and I'm happy to support them, but if they are getting stuck in with prices, I won't support them. They're not the only people who lost money.

machiavellianme · 08-06-2021 10:38am

They're some shower. Canvas the government through their cartel to force the competition to increase their prices to a prescribed Minimum Unit Pricing. Then when they have a nearly captive audience, commence operation price gouge. The only thing is that now they're using covid as an opportunity for an additional increase now ahead of MUP at the end of the year.

garrettod · 08-06-2021 1:42pm

Effects wrote: »

€5.50 at the Sheds in Clontarf.

Was that yesterday?

... I didn't think they were serving outdoors

It'll be interesting to see what Harry Byrnes and The Yacht are charging, given they've both converted their car parks (although I suspect that both got heavy sponsorhip)

garrettod · 08-06-2021 2:00pm

LMHC wrote: »

6 pound holy ****. That's pricier then dublin

Is it?

We've yet to see what places on Dawson St etc are going to try and charge us.

sligojoek · 08-06-2021 2:02pm

4.50 in rural village in Sligo. Same as before the closedown.

Effects · 09-06-2021 12:00am

garrettod wrote: »

Was that yesterday?

... I didn't think they were serving outdoors

It'll be interesting to see what Harry Byrnes and The Yacht are charging, given they've both converted their car parks (although I suspect that both got heavy sponsorhip)

Yeah, on Monday. The Sheds have a beer garden out the back, I don't know if that's new due to covid. They are doing food from the Sandbar, across the street. I just got one to takeaway. Don't see the point in sitting in a back yard with astroturf when I can sit on real grass and look out to sea.

Big queues at both Harry's and the Yacht. Harry's looked better to be honest.

dobman88 · 09-06-2021 12:05am

4.30, Keanes Bar in Carrigaholt, Co. Clare. Didnt want to leave because of the price and the keg right under the counter made for a gorgeous pint.

Also 4.30 at my home place in Kerry. So no price increases.

Haven't been into a local pub yet and my local which is the GAA club aren't opening until July 5th but they wont be raising their prices.

09-06-2021 12:07am

4.40 for a Guinness in my local, any operator charging more gets the heave. Hotels? After I'm dead.

garrettod · 09-06-2021 9:26pm

One thing seems certain - there's a massive difference between city and rural prices.

Hodors Appletart · 10-06-2021 9:13am

garrettod wrote: »

One thing seems certain - there's a massive difference between city and rural prices.

twas ever thus

Cazale · 10-06-2021 11:28am

irish_goat wrote:

My usual spot in Derry put their pint prices up by 50p. Food has gone up even more, about Â£2 per main course.

Was out in Derry last weekend and the rounds seemed dearer everywhere we went compared to before.

Black Sheep · 10-06-2021 1:51pm

To be honest not clear to me it is “price gouging”, Realistically if they are losing seating capacity because of the rules, and can’t do as many covers, some price inflation to address that might be to be expected. I agree it should be minimal, but I don’t think they’re all exactly counting their money and laughing at you.

I’m in Waterford right now and just paid 7 euro for a Helvic Gold in the Cliff House.

Amazed that’s less than price of a craft beer in Belfast by the way! Wow. Not my perception of NI pricing.

CapnHex · 10-06-2021 1:56pm

Sandyford House 5.20 last Monday. It was 5 in the bar before lockdown IIRC.

irish_goat · 10-06-2021 1:57pm

Black Sheep wrote: »

To be honest not clear to me it is “price gouging”, Realistically if they are losing seating capacity because of the rules, and can’t do as many covers, some price inflation to address that might be to be expected. I agree it should be minimal, but I don’t think they’re all exactly counting their money and laughing at you.

They'll also need more staff on due to the table service only rule. But at the same time, there's no way prices will drop once things return to normal either.

garrettod · 11-06-2021 2:20am

Hi,

I think quite a lot of pubs are benefiting from financial support / incentives from Diagio etc.

Didn't Diagio announce something like $100m to be used to help support pubs, a little while back, to include €14m for Irish pubs - that's a lot of free kegs?

I'm sure that other big brewers are also offering supports.

Its also no coincidence that almost all of the outdoor seating areas have heavy sponsorhip from Guinness, Heiniken, Corona etc.

There was some grant funding made available to help pay for outdoor facilities, when food is sold - with grants of up to €4,000 available. I think there may have been additional grant supports and Covid - 19 relief supports announced seperately, for wet pubs, that can't open yet.

I'm not convinced that the majority of pubs have more staff on - after all, if we follow the logic above, there are far less covers, so why have more staff serving less customers? Most pubs already had table service staff, often pay time students etc, so okay, maybe a couple more in some places, but won't they be on low wages, and hoping for tips?

I also think that many of the publicans are continuing to benefit from things like tax warehousing, so they are essentially interest free loans from the taxman. They previously would have availed of wage supports etc.

So, having considered all of the above, plus the fact that most of the nation are going to be trying to make up for lost time, so likely to be in the pubs as much as possible, so do the pubs really need to be pushing their prices up?

Oh, I forgot to mention, most of the city pubs make a Gross Margin of about 50%, increasing to between 60%-70% for those that also sell food. That's why you rarely hear of a publican going broke!

irish_goat · 11-06-2021 8:00am

garrettod wrote: »

I'm not convinced that the majority of pubs have more staff on - after all, if we follow the logic above, there are far less covers, so why have more staff serving less customers? Most pubs already had table service staff, often pay time students etc, so okay, maybe a couple more in some places, but won't they be on low wages, and hoping for tips?

You need more staff per covers, you'll have less customers but you need more staff to serve them as someone has to run in and out with the drinks and the orders. A lot of pubs now also have a member of staff front of house keeping an eye on bookings/showing people to tables.

Most pubs in Derry definitely didn't have table service before either.

BeerNut · 11-06-2021 8:55am

garrettod wrote: »

So, having considered all of the above, plus the fact that most of the nation are going to be trying to make up for lost time, so likely to be in the pubs as much as possible, so do the pubs really need to be pushing their prices up?

On the other hand the market has no real competition and seemingly rock-solid price inelasticity. Given that, why would prices go anywhere but up?

silver2020 · 11-06-2021 8:59am

machiavellianme wrote: »

They're some shower. Canvas the government through their cartel to force the competition to increase their prices to a prescribed Minimum Unit Pricing. Then when they have a nearly captive audience, commence operation price gouge. The only thing is that now they're using covid as an opportunity for an additional increase now ahead of MUP at the end of the year.

you obviously don't understand MUP in any way shape or form

BTW- hope you never go to Paris for a pint. You'll think Temple Bar is bargain basement.

L1011 · 11-06-2021 9:01am

MUP is a publican and standalone off licence led measure to force convenience stores and supermarkets to charge a price acceptable to publicans and stand alone off licences. So it's entirely about forcing the competition to become dearer.

Its not a public health measure of any kind and it won't work as one - but it's pushers don't expect or want it to

Geuze · 11-06-2021 9:12am

garrettod wrote: »

Hi,

Oh, I forgot to mention, most of the city pubs make a Gross Margin of about 50%, increasing to between 60%-70% for those that also sell food. That's why you rarely hear of a publican going broke!

A publican told me about an Irish pub chain that gets discounts on beer due to volumes, but maintains high prices, and so makes 80% gross margin on beer.

Geuze · 11-06-2021 9:14am

silver2020 wrote: »

BTW- hope you never go to Paris for a pint. You'll think Temple Bar is bargain basement.

"Happy hour" is widespread in Paris.

I accept only until maybe 10pm.

I have paid 3.50 / 3.75 for 50cl lager in central Paris during the last five years.

the beer revolu · 11-06-2021 9:20am

Geuze wrote: »

A publican told me about an Irish pub chain that gets discounts on beer due to volumes, but maintains high prices, and so makes 80% gross margin on beer.

And I believe everything that a publican tells me, too! Especially when it's bitching about the competition!

11-06-2021 9:33am

Chronic.

This opportunism won't go down well with drinkers. There will be a short term high from it as people reacquaint with one another but footfall will fall off as people elect to drink at home.

Creamy Goodness · 11-06-2021 9:41am

Morgan Brief Mushroom wrote: »

Chronic.

This opportunism won't go down well with drinkers. There will be a short term high from it as people reacquaint with one another but footfall will fall off as people elect to drink at home.

same was said when a pint of Guinness hit €4, then again at €5. Yeah you'll lose some people but it's not as many as you think it will be.

L1011 · 11-06-2021 9:48am

Go back long enough and you'll find it for 50p (still thought of as the lowest banknote, 10/-, though that was long gone) and £1 and every major price point since

Alcohol consumption is declining anyway and not in step with affordability

BeerNut · 11-06-2021 9:49am

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

same was said when a pint of Guinness hit €4, then again at €5. Yeah you'll lose some people but it's not as many as you think it will be.

I remember it being said when the price of Guinness hit £2, and am told it was a bigger deal when the pint hit £1. Doubtless it goes back further than that. It has never been a problem for the big breweries and there's no reason to suppose it will be now.

machiavellianme · 11-06-2021 9:52am

silver2020 wrote: »

you obviously don't understand MUP in any way shape or form

BTW- hope you never go to Paris for a pint. You'll think Temple Bar is bargain basement.

Really? What part of MUP don't I understand? You make such a broad sweeping statement but don't elaborate on your point?
Do you think that forcing the likes of Dutch Gold to be at a set minimum price in supermarkets won't be taken as an opportunity for all alcohol across the range to be increased relatively in price so as to maintain the "premium" feel for other brands? Don't tell me that you are naive enough to think that the publicans won't take advantage also? MUP is an insidious attempt to get folk back into pubs, but it's also an opportunity to say that cans aren't as tasty as the lovely draught pint we serve, so pucker up and pay for that privilege and while you're at it, pay for the extra heating and sanitising etc that Diageo has sponsored for us.

MUP is nothing to do with health and everything to do with price gouging. Whatever price increases happen now will be extended come MUP. It's a double whammy. Just like when we adopted the euro and prices began to spiral.

BTW, my family are part French and there's plenty of cheap prices in Paris. You must not have strayed far from the tourist traps? Or maybe you were confusing it with Cafe en Seine? Dublin prices are on a par with Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen now, but without the high wages and quality of life that Scandinavia offers.

the beer revolu · 11-06-2021 9:55am

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

same was said when a pint of Guinness hit €4, then again at €5. Yeah you'll lose some people but it's not as many as you think it will be.

I knew an old fella in West Cork who said he'd follow the pint up to £1. He was a bachelor and enjoyed a few pints daily. (when I knew him he'd already stopped)
When the price breached £1, he stopped going to the pub - depriving himself of one of the few pleasures and social outlets that he had.
He died leaving plenty of money. His relatives spent the money he was too mean to.

Some people have always thought that pints are too expensive and I suspect they always will.

adam240610 · 11-06-2021 9:57am

5.50 for Guinness 5.90 for most others, and 6 for Wicklow wolf in Greystones

11-06-2021 10:46am

€4.30 in Cottage Bar, Buncrana

Geuze · 11-06-2021 10:57am

the beer revolu wrote: »

And I believe everything that a publican tells me, too! Especially when it's bitching about the competition!

Yes, fair enough, it was bar counter talk.

However, there is/are pub chains in Ireland that have enough scale to get larger discounts than normal, and who don't pass that onto customers (unlike JD Wspoons).

So although 80% does sound high, I tend to believe there is some truth to it.

I hear 60% gross margins on drink are possible in well run pubs.

the beer revolu · 11-06-2021 11:10am

Geuze wrote: »

Yes, fair enough, it was bar counter talk.

However, there is/are pub chains in Ireland that have enough scale to get larger discounts than normal, and who don't pass that onto customers (unlike JD Wspoons).

So although 80% does sound high, I tend to believe there is some truth to it.

I hear 60% gross margins on drink are possible in well run pubs.

I think people misunderstand gross profit margin.
Let's ignore vat for simplicity.

If I buy at €2 and sell for €5, I make 60% gp.
To get 80% gp, I'd need to sell at €10.

ie 80% of the selling price is profit.

Or, I'd need to buy at €1 and sell for €5 to make 80%

garrettod · 11-06-2021 9:08pm

BeerNut wrote: »

On the other hand the market has no real competition and seemingly rock-solid price inelasticity. Given that, why would prices go anywhere but up?

Well, seeing as you've raised the question, how about this...

People have spent most of the last 15-18 months drinking at home, installing fancy garden furniture, mini bars, big screen TVs etc. So they go a little further down that route and have friends over more often, throw more house or garden parties, rather than meeting their friends in the pub?

The booze would be significantly cheaper, the craic could be just as good, and the rip off merchants operating in the pub trade lose a lot of business.

I'm far from anti publican btw, and I do really like pubs, but I'm sick of the way some publicans take every opportunity to rip us all off, so think it's time we all start fighting back with boycotts of the relevant pubs etc.

antimatterx · 11-06-2021 9:13pm

garrettod wrote: »

Well, seeing as you've raised the question, how about this...

People have spent most of the last 15-18 months drinking at home, installing fancy garden furniture, mini bars, big screen TVs etc. So they go a little further down that route and have friends over more often, throw more house or garden parties, rather than meeting their friends in the pub?

The booze would be significantly cheaper, the craic could be just as good, and the tip off merchants operating in the pub trade lose a lot of business.

I'm far from anti publican btw, and I do really like pubs, but I'm sick of the way some publicans take every opportunity to rip us all off.

Yeah one of my mates got a log cabin in his back garden and it's vastly superior then going to pubs.

The DayDream · 11-06-2021 9:18pm

Irish people boycotting pubs. Yeah that will happen. I don't go to them any more much myself but there are legions of thirsty bantasaurus rex's out there who will be happy to pay.

Everything in this country is a rip off. but alcohol isn't a necessity and it's got a minimum price now - it's not really that good a drug to be worth it once you get older. I dont miss it much, i like going to new ones outside of my home town when i get to go away. But for every one of me there's plenty new drinkers being born every day. It may be declining, but I think theyll do all right. I don't think the pubs are ever gonna be short of people in this country. Especially after they been stuck inside for ages. It rains so much here if you don't want to stay inside every night where do you go?

garrettod · 11-06-2021 9:21pm

The DayDream wrote: »

Irish people boycotting pubs. Yeah that will happen.....

Not all pubs, just the ones that are blatently screwing is all over.

Twee. · 11-06-2021 9:22pm

€5.50 in Inchicore, seems about the Dublin standard. Haven't been to the smaller, off the main road local yet so be interesting to see their price.

On MUP, the Public Health Act that it's under is around since 2018, so it's not a covid recovery measure. There are tons of problems with MUP, but it's not an overnight job my any means.

garrettod · 11-06-2021 9:24pm

irish_goat wrote: »

You need more staff per covers, you'll have less customers but you need more staff to serve them as someone has to run in and out with the drinks and the orders. A lot of pubs now also have a member of staff front of house keeping an eye on bookings/showing people to tables.

Most pubs in Derry definitely didn't have table service before either.

The extra staff that you refer to are temporary, if they are there at all - the pubs will be back serving indoors in a month or so.

Anyway,the various points that I raised in the original post that you've quoted from more than offset any short term Southall cost for a few extra table staff. So there's absoutely no way it justifies the price hikes that some pubs are sneaking in.

BeerNut · 11-06-2021 9:55pm

garrettod wrote: »

how about this...

People have spent most of the last 15-18 months drinking at home, installing fancy garden furniture, mini bars, big screen TVs etc. So they go a little further down that route and have friends over more often, throw more house or garden parties, rather than meeting their friends in the pub?

By and large, no they haven't. An insignificantly small number of people have done that. This is the same argument as "everyone will turn to homebrew". No they won't. Some people might, but they don't figure on Diageo's balance sheets so they literally don't count.

tayto lover · 11-06-2021 10:54pm

My local put the prices up by an average of 50c.
They can keep it.
€4.90 for a pint is overpriced imo.

The Buster · 12-06-2021 12:33pm

I see prices gone up in my local as well. From €4.30 to €4.70. Probably a bit more than i expected but will not put me off visiting them.

It is over 2 years (i know they were closed for 1 of them) since the last price increase so in normal times the price would probablhave increased to around €4.50 anyway. Probably the right time to increase - easier to raise prices when most customers are so happy to have you open and to get a table that they will pay anything you charge them! Typically when the usual 10 cent increase was made the owner woulld have to listen to the locals moaning about it for at least a month - I used to love listening to it. One of the aul lads used to always come in with exact change for 3 pints at old price and there was always a semi stand off when he would leave to go home after the second pint as he was 30 cent short on the last drink and the publician would "reluctantly" let him off with the 30 cent. While i am delighted to have the pub open, I still really miss the banter of sitting at the counter of a small town or country pub

On the other hand now they have increased the prices and the cost of a pint is more then I expected they better not raise them again for at least 2 years

What's your local charging for a pint now?

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