Picture the scene:
You order a pint of your favourite lager, eyes welling up as the bartender requests the better part of £20.
Mid session, you pop into McDonald’s to sober up with a cheeky cheeseburger, but the quid you keep in your pocket doesn’t cover the £1.33 price tag.
Later on, you book an Uber home, wincing at the £27 fare.
The day after, you mull bleary eyed over a £4.44 cappuccino, wondering if a night on the lash is even worth it anymore.
Such could be the harsh reality of a Friday evening out in London in 2025, warns The Daily Mail, as skyrocketing costs and double-digit inflation is set to send costs soaring in the hospitality sector.
Pension provider Penfold has predicted that the average cost of a London pint is set to rise as high as £13.98 by the middle of the decade, with £10 due to be reached a lot sooner.
The average price of a pint across the whole of the UK could go up to £4.42, said Penfold, while huge price increases are expected for recreational pastimes, transport, accommodation and daily essentials.
An inhospitable environment
A recent survey by hospitality experts Fourth found that 81% of hospitality businesses have been hit by shortages in food and beverage products, while rising energy costs and staff shortages cause further grief from other directions.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive officer of the British Beer and Pub Association, struck a grim tone: “Our sector hangs in the balance, rising energy bills are crippling pubs across the country with only one in three turning a profit and that figure is only likely to worsen as winter approaches.”
The hospitality woes have led to calls for tax duty cuts and an energy price cap for small businesses in the sector.
“We need urgent action from the Government to save businesses and jobs in communities across the country, but we also need a long-term plan to ensure the health of the hospitality sector so it can continue to support the economic and social fabric of our country,” said McClarkin.