On the last Friday of the month, bars in London are heaving and everyone is feeling generous. By the end of the month, it’s a different story.
If you’ve recently had something of a shock trying to order a drink in central London, you’re not alone. New data from the ONS shows that draught lager prices shot up more than 10% in the 12 months to January 2024 (which is to say nothing of the almost 30% increase since 2019).
Good value exists across the price spectrum, but smart planning is the key. Which is why we’ve asked London’s finest mixologists, publicans, and sommeliers – from Agostino Perrone at the Connaught Bar to Oisín Rogers at The Devonshire – to name the place they go for a well-priced drink. A glass, coupé, or tumbler that won’t break the bank, but still does the job (and does it well).
The Winemakers Club, Farringdon
“A really cool place I always recommend is The Winemakers Club in Farringdon. It’s in the archway underneath a bridge, one of those really beautiful iconic London bridges. It’s a wine shop, but if you want to drink in, it’s only a £14 corkage. Or on weekdays between 12 and 4pm, it’s no corkage, so you can go in there and drink bottles at retail price. They have some amazing wines, a huge selection of bottles between £15 and £25. The guy who owns it is really into small producers. I’m really into grower champagnes, so he carries a great range in that. I recommend people that go there to try a champagne called Bonnet-Ponson.” – Sandia Chang, Kitchen Table
The Cow, Notting Hill
“My best pint of Guinness in London is from The Cow on Westbourne Park Road. That’s been going for years and years. They take great pride in their Guinness, they pour a ton of it. It’s run by Tom Conran, and it was the first properly cool pub in London I think. It still has an open little kitchen with a chef there, and it cooks really great food, and it’s got a good wine list. Everything you want in a local pub.” – François O'Neill, Maison François and Frank’s.
The taprooms at Mammoth Beer, Kanpai, and Great Beyond Brewing Company
“One of the best ways to seek out something accessible is to go to the places where they make things, or stay close to the culture that spurned them. A great example is the taprooms at Mammoth, Kanpai or Great Beyond. They’re close to other drinking holes, or kindly positioned at the heart of a neighbourhood, and you have the advantage of being able to speak to the people who made the products. Nigori sake or a sour beer are both a personal fave.” – Ryan Chetiyawardana, Lyaness and Seed Library
Coach and Horses, Soho
“I'm a pints man, so I like to meet friends for beers when I'm not working. I frequent quite a few of the pubs in Soho, and my favourite is the Coach and Horses. I can often be spotted later on at Gerry's Club on Dean Street or at the Blue’s Bar on Kingly Street.” – Oisín Rogers, The Devonshire
Diddy’s Bar, Hackney
“I think this is one of the most underrated spots in East London. When Diddy opened the bar, she really didn’t want it to be another Hackney bar where the local community was priced out of the drinks. So she does a £7 Tommy’s margarita that is fucking mean, and all the cocktails are super reasonably priced as well. It’s not about making a massive profit and expanding the brand, it’s about serving local community. And it’s worked, because there’s such an amazing group of students and locals.” – Hannah Crosbie, writer covering wine and founder of the Dalson Wine Club
The Audley, Mayfair
“I don’t know what’s happened to me in the last month, but I’m getting addicted to Guinness. The Audley is my favourite place for Guinness. They care about the taste, the process, the food, and everything.” – Agostino Perrone, The Connaught
Corkage-Free Restaurants
“The best hack for cheap drinking is finding spots that do great food but offer free corkage, that way you can drink something good for less than you would in a restaurant with an alcohol license. My go-tos are Umut 2000 in Dalston, Singburi in Leytonstone, Xian Impressions next to the Arsenal football stadium, and Little Georgia just around the corner from Sune on Broadway Market. Buy yourself a bottle of something decent from your local wine shop that will work with the cuisine, and pocket the saving. – Honey Spencer, Sune
Equal Parts, Hackney
“Equal Parts on Hackney Road is very nice. An interesting cocktail list and not too expensive. A guest came to our bar who works at Sager + Wilde, and she mentioned they also have a cocktail bar called Equal Parts. So I was in Dalston having dinner with a friend, and we decided to check it out after. I had a drink with tomato water which was really refreshing.” — Matteo Pesce, Bar Lina
Satan’s Whiskers, Bethnal Green
“One of my favourite bars in London is Satan's Whiskers. It has the maximum enjoyment-to-efficiency ratio hard to beat. The Dry Daiquiri, which combines white rum and Campari with passionfruit and lime, is a personal favourite.” – Florian Thireau, The Peninsula London
The Mulwray, Soho
“I really love it, because it’s a bit of a hidden spot. From the street you can’t see it – on the ground floor is The Blue Posts pub. It’s a decent price, you can have a glass from £9. They have some grape varieties and countries that are unusual and harder to find in central London.” – Carole Byron, Lady of the Grapes
Bar 392, Dalston
“This is a great neighbourhood spot, and the hospitality is always excellent. Angelo the owner is one of the greatest hosts and has really nurtured a great community vibe. I popped in one day to check it out and was immediately greeted with one of the warmest welcomes. Often as a bartender just somewhere to sit on your own and have a glass of wine is invaluable.” – Chris Tanner, Dram
The Dove, Broadway Market
“The Dove is a Belgian-style pub with an incredibly big selection of my favourite style of beers, almost unbeatable in London. It has a great selection of non-alcoholic options with great value. I order the Blanche de Bruxelles, wheat beer, unfiltered, for £6.” – Matteo Vaccargiu, Equal Parts
Champagne + Fromage, Covent Garden
“When it comes to champagne, I’m a fan of the quirky so will head to Covent Garden’s Champagne + Fromage. Informal and reasonably priced by the glass and bottle options. They only stock grower champagnes, and other sparklers, and they prove that bubbles really is the way to go with cheese.” – Edwin Dublin, Berry Bros. & Rudd
Bar Termini and Speedboat Bar, Soho
“For an affordable cocktail in London, I would probably go to Bar Termini in Soho, for a negroni or a garibaldi. If you want something a bit more fun, I would go to Speedboat Bar, also in Soho. I think it’s really fun drinks with good prices, and a great whiskey highball.” – Matthias Ingelmann, KOL
Cocktail Bar, South Norwood
“The owner Scott Gavin here is an excellent bar manager. He’s worked at Scarfes Bar, The Bloomsbury Club. Whenever I go there, I ask for a martini, neat or dirty, with vodka, and if possible with a pickle. For me, I want something uncompromising that has a bit of character and is also a change from my usual day-to-day.” – Chantal Serrano, Clase Azul
