It’s no secret that London is far from the cheapest place in the world to live. When it comes to sky-high prices, beer is, unfortunately, no exception and a pint can cost you some serious money.
The average cost of a pint of lager in central London is around £4.50 to £5.00, and to be honest it’s absolutely ludicrous. But don’t despair, if you know where to look it is absolutely still possible to find a cheap pint, and luckily we’re on hand to point you in the right direction!
The Social
Average pint cost: £2.50 (with a membership card)
Nearest tube: Oxford Circus
Nestled away down a Fitzrovia back street, just across from the chaos of Oxford Circus is The Social. It’s an intimate music bar which has been providing locals with the perfect platform to make a complete spectacle of themselves via the medium of Hip Hop Karaoke for over ten years now. On top of that, there’s nightly live music, food, and a few pints won’t leave your pockets empty. Just grab a membership card from the bar staff and you can enjoy 2-4-1 on loads of drinks, draught beers included.
Where to find it: 5 Little Portland Street, W1W 7JD
The Citte of Yorke
Average pint cost: £3.50
Nearest Tube: Chancery Lane
If the idea of drinking in a Sam Smith’s pub puts you off then may we politely suggest that you get over yourself and give The Citte of Yorke pub a shot? You couldn’t be blamed for walking straight past it on your first visit – the entrance isn’t exactly eye-catching after all. However, once inside it’s a different story as you enter a truly cavernous boozer with wooden panelled walls, wooden seating booths and a colossal bar.
Where to find it: 22 High Holborn, WC1V 6BS
Ridley Road Market Bar
Average pint cost: £3.00
Nearest tube: Dalston Kingsland Overground
A scruffy shop in the heart of London’s hipster capital, transformed into a scruffy bar in the heart of London’s Hipster capital. Ridley Road Market Bar is a no-frills option with a seriously DIY vibe, but that’s what gives it its charm. Beer is cheap, cocktails are a fiver and the Reggae & Motown music policy is sure to have your head nodding as you skull Red Stripes well into the small hours.
Where to find it: 49 Ridley Road, E8 2NP
Stormbird
Average pint cost: All cask ales are £3.00. We can’t really argue with that!
Nearest tube: Denmark Hill Overground
In an area of London currently being ravaged by gentrification/hipsters it’s refreshing to come across a place that isn’t trying to sell you Guatemalan mountain coffee, served up in a china thimble, soundtracked by authentic noises of industrial Sheffield playing on vinyl from the antique gramophone in the corner (or something equally ridiculous). No, this local boozer keeps things pleasantly simple and cheap. There’s a huge selection of bottled and draught beer behind the bar, and cask ales are only three pounds a pop. Worth a look in this financial climate, surely!
Adam & Eve
Average pint cost: £3.00 between 4pm – 8pm
Nearest tube: Homerton Overground
When thinking of top drinking spots in the capital it’s probably fair to assume that Homerton is probably not the first area that springs to mind, but this restored pub goes some way toward putting it on the map. Offering up a mouth-watering selection of Cornish cuisine and beer the Adam & Eve is a cosy gastropub with a wallet friendly happy-hour between 4pam and 8pm – ensuring that you’ll have enough change left over to try one of their fantastic Scotch Eggs. If that isn’t enough to tempt you there’s also a beer garden, ‘L’-shaped pool table and a great jukebox selection too.
Where to find it: 155 Homerton High Street, E9 6AS
The Champion
Average pint cost: £3.50
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road
It’s impossible to compile a list of cheap pubs in London without featuring more than one Sam Smith’s joint. The Champion is a good one. It’s one of the less well known Sam Smith’s pubs in the city centre but it’s only a stone’s throw from Oxford Street. There’s no beer garden but there is seating on the street. It’s the perfect place for a spot of people watching…not to mention the modestly priced ale!
Where to find it: 12-13 Wells Street, W1T 3PA
Featured image credit: Thomas Hawk