Pub Survey 2024 results

The 2024 survey was carried out on June 29th, with 169 pubs visited by 29 volunteers, who found 264 different beers available, in a total of 491 beers on sale on handpump or gravity. There were 118 pubs serving one or more real ales, approximately 2 in every 3 and up 4 on 2023, but many of the ‘non-real-ale’ venues are hotels or ‘night time’ bars.

The 2024 totals compare with 265 different beers in a total of 464 found in 2023, indicating that while the total number of beers on sale has only recovered slightly since COVID, the range of beers has increased significantly, although neither are anywhere near back to 2019 levels of 308 different beers in a total of 581.

The average price of a pint has risen to £4.56 from £4.30 in 2023 and £3.68 in 2019, a 6% and 24% increase respectively. The average strength of beer was unchanged at 4.3%, roughly £1 for every 1% ABV. The most expensive beer was £6.55, and the cheapest £1.79 – I’m sure you can guess where!

This year, for the first time, we also surveyed the price of Guinness and the price of the cheapest keg lager, which came out at £5.60 and £4.75 respectively, highlighting that real ale continues to be excellent value.

The most popular beers (with publicans at least!) were Adnams Ghost Ship, in 25 pubs (23 in 2022), followed by Sharp’s Doom Bar in 17 (19) and Greene King Abbot, Wolf Golden Jackal (a new entry), Greene King IPA and Oakham Citra all in 10 pubs.

Lacons Encore in 9 (12) dropped to 7th from number 4, and Woodforde’s Wherry, in 8 pubs was in 9th place (11, down from 49 in 2013) alongside Timothy Taylor Landlord.

The top five included a total of 72 pumps on the bar, down from 78 in 2023, and a significant drop from the 89 in 2022 showing a further increase in diversity. This is even more marked if we go back to 2013, where the top five (Wherry, Adnam’s Southwold, Doom Bar, Adnam’s Broadside and Woodforde’s Nelson’s Revenge) took 128 slots, and were all ‘brown’ bitters.

Thanks to all the volunteers who selflessly visited all the pubs, Craig Harmer for organising them, and Martin Ward and Ian Stamp for entering all the data!