Pub bar prices 'flexible'?

timbo58

Quick question as I don't seem to be able to find the answer online elsewhere.

Can a pub charge more for the same items after midnight?


i.e. a pub raised prices by 30p a pint citing it was after midnight recently and I have never heard of this before.

Frankly I've been to a few events where prices seem to 'evolve' during the evening and I can only consider this a deliberate act of fraud -unless anyone knows it's legal?

I thought they had to have and show a tariff and couldn't deviate from that?

martinthebandit

Of course its legal.

timbo58

Thanks -but I'd really just like to know why?

It doesn't sound legal to me to charge one price and then up it 10 minutes later, unless its either a 'midnight law' that no one knows about except this pub in particular, or it's a 'we can charge anyone whatever price we feel like as long as we aren't discriminating' rule.

I've run a few businesses over the years and none have had this degree of 'charge what you like' pricing, fair enough shops can decide whether to sell you an item or not but they can't simply make up the price when you come in.

newbie1980

maybe staff want more wages after midnight so the costs have to be bourne somewhere

maybe the licience for after midnight costs

there could be many reason for it

timbo58

Hi, thanks for that, I can absolutely understand the reasons a pub might want to charge more after midnight, however I did want to know whether it was actually legal and why it was legal.

I think next time my friends drink there I'll get them to ask if there is a variable tariff -no problem if they publicise it I guess!

However I have definitely been charged more at some venues throughout the evening by varying bar staff for the same drinks, and I'm quite sure that's not on.

thanks for the replies guys.

wealdroam

timbo58 wrote: »

I thought they had to have and show a tariff and couldn't deviate from that?

I too thought that.

Did you check the posted tariff?
Perhaps it had after midnight prices as well.

bris

It's legal because there is no law against it.

redcard

bris wrote: »

It's legal because there is no law against it.

You won't be aware of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008?

Bar prices must be displayed, the same way a restaurant needs to have their menu displayed at the front door.

ManAtHome

There have been a few news stories about LAs charging 'after midnight' taxes, allegedly to pay for policing, noise patrols, cleaning etc - dunno if any have actually started charging...
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/10382428.Anger_at____midnight_tax____plan_for_York_pubs/
http://www.nottinghampost.com/Nottingham-pubs-threat-new-city-8216-tax-8217/story-20909303-detail/story.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-22730699

browneyedbazzi

Restaurants don't need to display their menu at the front door. They need to have information available to customers about what they are selling and the prices but that doesn't have to be anywhere near the door - many restaurants choose to put menus near the door because customers like to see menus and check there's something they like and prices before going in.

Bars and pubs also need to have price information available to customers - but the prices can still change depending on the time- they can have a price list that says £x for a drink, then 15% off for drinks before midnight for example. Or have a 'happy hour' with discounted drinks at particular times of day. It's not unusual at all for prices to vary depending on the time of day or even day of the week. Perfectly legal and I'm a bit surprised that OP hasn't seen this type of thing before.

timbo58

Thankyou manathome I have seen such reports although this one is on the IW so it isn't their LAs policy.

Thankyou also wealdroam I have already advised my friends next time they are there to ask for the tariff and see if the extra charges are detailed.

Thankyou browneyedbazzi too, very useful!

No, I hadn't seen it before, or maybe I am lucky that the places I am usually at beyond 12 are fairer?