Northern Ireland

Watch: Belfast punters react to the ‘outrageous’ price of Guinness

After a survey estimated that Guinness will typically cost around £6.40 in Belfast city centre, and that overall prices are higher than Dublin, the Irish News asked Belfast residents if it put them off nights out.

The price of a Guinness in Belfast now averages £5.65
The price of a Guinness in Belfast now averages £5.65
By Allan Preston

AS the soaring price of Guinness in Belfast appears to have overtaken Dublin, punters have said the “outrageous” cost of nights out is turning them away.

With pints in the city centre costing around £6.40, a survey from the pinttracker.com website also calculated that Belfast was generally more expensive for Guinness than Dublin by 90 pence.

While average wages are higher in Dublin, Colin Neill from Hospitality Ulster said higher business rates were inflating prices while noting Guinness prices dropped quickly outside of the city centre.

One Belfast resident told the Irish News the cost of a night out had become “outrageous”.

“It’s just dear, you don’t get much change back,” he said.

“It all depends where you’re going. In Dublin obviously if you’re in Temple Bar it’s really dear but if you find the right spot it’s reasonable.”

On whether a trip to Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter was still worth it, he said: “It depends on the night, if there’s a big night on you wouldn’t mind it. But it’s getting to the point where a lot more people are sitting in now because of the price of it.”

If you can’t see the video below, click here.

Another woman said: “I suppose it just depends on the establishment, staffing costs and rates in that area.

“I think when you go out you expect there to be some sort of difference in pricing, but it’s pretty ridiculous.

“Like at the Sunflower you can go for a pint for a fiver, Henrys it’s £6.50 which is a huge difference in price.”

One visitor from Canada said he was prepared to shell out for inner-city pints.

“I love the Cathedral Quarter, I did live here for seven years. In fact, I’ve got friends with me so I really love it up there for nights out.”

Asked what made it worth it, he said: “I think for the vibe, it’s a nicer atmosphere and I’m prepared to pay for that.”

On the popular Pints O’ Guinness page on X, followed by 22,000 people, several stout lovers also gave their verdict on whether £6.40 pints of Guinness put them off going out.

One commented: “Yup hands down, I really limited going to the bar once it went to £5. I now get a box of beer and sit in my friend’s bar out his back, I save about £60 a night doing this.”