Pub chain ramps up prices

Enterprise Inns has added 4% to 5% to the cost of tied drinks.

The news follows price hikes announced last month by a range of brewers, with Heineken UK adding seven pence to the cost of a pint and Diageo adding 5% to draught Guinness.

An Enterprise Inns spokeswoman said: “We have communicated the outcomes of our 2012 pricing review directly to all our publicans, and do not discuss private and confidential matters between the company and its publicans with any other parties.

“We share a strong common interest in our publicans’ success and will continue to go to considerable lengths to assist and support them in dealing with current economic challenges.”

Though many publicans have absorbed previous price rises brought about each year in the Budget, it seems unlikely they can continue to do so in the wake of the breweries and pub companies ramping up costs further.