Pub landlords across the UK are sounding the alarm that a pint of Guinness could soon cost drinkers a staggering £10, following a fresh announcement of price increases from its manufacturer, Diageo.
The Latest Increase from Diageo
Diageo, the global drinks giant behind the iconic Irish stout, has confirmed it will raise draught Guinness prices by 5.2 per cent in April 2026. This follows a previous increase of 4.2 per cent implemented last year. A company spokesperson told The Independent that the move was necessary to manage rising operational and supply chain costs.
"Like all businesses, Diageo must carefully manage the rising cost of doing business through regular pricing review of our products," the spokesperson stated. They emphasised that the increase was kept to a minimum and would allow for continued investment in their brands and support for the hospitality sector.
Pub Owners Voice Their Anger
The announcement has been met with dismay by publicans already grappling with a cascade of other rising expenses. Mark Edgell, director of the Dog and Partridge pub in Yateley, Hampshire, told the Morning Advertiser that Diageo seemed "hell bent on having the first £10 a pint beer."
He revealed that in his pub, the price of a pint of Guinness has already jumped from £5.50 to £6.50 over the past three years, and is set to rise to around £6.90. Edgell listed a perfect storm of financial pressures forcing pubs to pass on costs:
- Soaring energy bills
- Recent increases to the national minimum and living wage
- Rises in National Insurance contributions
- Beer duty increases and high VAT rates
- Recent business rates valuation hikes
"This price hike from Diageo is just another slap in the face," he said.
Risks to Affordability and Trade
Other pub operators echoed these concerns, warning that the cumulative effect is making the beloved stout unaffordable. Rob Barr, owner of Barr and Barr Hospitality which runs three pubs in West Sussex and Dorset, labelled the Diageo increase as "extreme" and said it risked pricing pub-goers out of the market altogether.
The April increase is equivalent to roughly an extra 4p per pint at the wholesale level, but pub owners stress they are forced to add a much larger margin to cover their own spiralling overheads, pushing the final price for consumers ever higher.
Diageo noted that products including Guinness 0.0, Guinness Microdraught, and Guinness Draught in Can 440ml four-packs would not be affected by this particular price change. The company is also undergoing a leadership change, with former Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis appointed as its new chief executive to help boost performance.
For now, publicans and patrons alike are left bracing for the impact, with the spectre of a landmark £10 pint becoming an increasingly plausible reality.
