Is it just us, or does it feel like the price of a pint keeps getting more and more expensive almost every week at this point?
We'll answer for you: yes—yes it does, and while you can't expect big cities like Leeds to be the cheapest places to get one in the UK, we do often wonder how it compares to other parts of the country.
Well, as it happens, someone has recently crunched the numbers for us across the nation, breaking down which regions pay the most and the least for their pints.
The data has been examined by business management consultancy firm, CGA Strategy, using artificial intelligence and information from the latest Retail Price Index figures to find out what the 'average price of a pint' is down south, up North and everywhere in between.
While the latest statistics provided by the group aren't granular enough to clue us in on Leeds' pint game, specifically, we can show you how our particular geographic region is looking on the leaderboard at the moment.
The average price of a pint per region in the UK
Wales - £4.21
North East - £4.28
Northern Ireland - £4.42
Scotland - £4.42
Yorkshire and the Humber - £4.42
North West - £4.42
West Midlands - £4.42
East Midlands - £4.42
East England - £4.56
South West - £4.93
South East - £4.94
London - £5.44
That's right, folks from Yorkshire and the Humber region are technically joint mid-table when it comes to the lowest average cost of a pint, sharing the places from 3rd to 8th according to CGA, anyway.
Powered by consumer intelligence company, NIQ (NielsenIQ) - who also use AI and the latest technology to deliver their insights - we can accept it might seem like it's been a while since you've paid that little for a pint, especially in the city centre, but these are the stats they have published.
Don't shoot the messenger, as they say; unless, of course, they're trying to rob you blind for a bev. Fortunately, we've practically turned bargain hunting at the bar into a sport now.
While some of you may have raised and eyebrow or two at the supposed average pint prices across Yorkshire, it won't surprise any of you to see that London leads the way when it came to the most expensive pints when it came to average cost in the UK.
To be honest, £5.44 doesn't just sound cheap but virtually unheard of these days.
CGA states that the average cost of a beer in the capital is actually down 15p from September 2024, but as we all know, paying upwards of £7 for a pint down that end of the country is pretty much standard the closer you get to London.
Leeds City Council is asking people for their views about transport options and public space in the city centre.
Got some thoughts and feelings about how you'd like Leeds city centre to operate? Well now's your time to speak up.
Because people are being invited to give their feedback on current issues and improvements they would like to see around St. Peter’s Street, York Street, Eastgate, Duke Street, Kirkgate, Crown Point Road, Marsh Lane and East Street.
This area of Leeds is vital for those travelling in and out of the city, with many integral and busy bus routes passing through here.
The area is also home to leisure, cultural and educational facilities, as well as Leeds bus station, and has a large and growing residential population, making it a key area for people using the bus, walking, cycling, and travelling by car.
Between 2014 and 2024, there were 260 road related casualties in the area, including 32 serious casualties and three fatalities.
The council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority will use feedback to develop plans for safer ways of travelling for everyone and more welcoming public spaces.
Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said: “This is an important step towards a transport system that prioritises efficient public transport and supports all forms of travelling, making it easier and safer for people to get around the city.
“Public spaces are there to be used and enjoyed by everyone, and it's important that we make these spaces welcoming, accessible and well connected.
"We urge everyone that travels through this area — whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus - to take part in the consultation and share your views. By sharing your experience of travelling in the area, we’ll be able to make the right improvements to make it a safer, more welcoming space for everyone.”
Have your say before Tuesday 17 November by filling in a short survey, or attending a drop-in event. You can view the drop-in events here.
Leeds City Council confirms plans to repair historic Lower Kirkgate with work set to begin this month
Clementine Hall
Leeds City Council has confirmed that work to stabilise buildings on Lower Kirkgate is set to begin later this month, with repairs expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
Back in 2024, Lower Kirkgate in Leeds city centre was closed following the partial collapse of a building, leaving one of the city's oldest streets inaccessible.
Since then, the street has remained closed while plans were developed to address the structural issues affecting the buildings.
Now, almost two years after the initial incident, the council has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work.
The buildings are privately owned, but Leeds City Council says it will step in to carry out the stabilisation work to prevent further deterioration and protect the historic properties.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We are pleased that, following months of careful planning and preparation, we are now in a position to begin stabilising these privately owned buildings.
“A contract has been awarded for the work, which is scheduled to get under way later this month and is expected to take around 20 weeks to complete.
“It should be stressed that the situation on Lower Kirkgate is not of the council's making, with the owners of the buildings allowing their condition to deteriorate over many years and then failing to take the necessary steps to address the resultant structural issues.
“By stepping in and carrying out this work itself, the council will be able to arrest the deterioration of important heritage assets on one of Leeds’s oldest streets. As always, we thank the local community for their continued patience and support.”
Further details about the work, including when the street may be able to reopen, have not yet been confirmed.