Enjoying a delicious pub meal during the winter months is a staple activity amongst us Brits. Whether it’s tucking in after a winter walk with the dog or a family outing and enjoying classics like bangers and mash, a Sunday roast or a homemade pie we can’t get enough of pub grub.
In fact, 37% of us visit our local once a fortnight to enjoy food and drink, but where in the UK do you get the most bang for your buck when it comes to an affordable pub meal?
Well the answer is surprisingly close to home, with Swansea coming out top of the list of cheapest places in the UK for a pub meal.
Catering equipment experts, Alliance Online analysed the average cost of a pub meal for two across the nation to crown the towns and cities with the cheapest pub grub.
Coming in first was Swansea, Wales, with a pub meal for two coming in at just £17. With 135 pubs across the coastal Welsh city, locals can enjoy their favourite pub dinners at a more affordable rate than anywhere else in the UK.
In joint second, Gloucester, Kingston upon Hull and Coventry all came in at £22 per couple. Gloucester has a rich pub tradition with some of its most historic pubs dating back to medieval times.
Southend on Sea and Leeds came in joint third costing only £2 more at £24 for two. With Leeds and Sheffield both boasting thriving craft beer scenes, many of the cities’ craft breweries also offer a new twist on traditional pub grub.
According to data from the British Beer and Pub Association there has been a 45% increase from 2000 to 2024 in the number of pubs offering food while another study by Mintel shows that 30% of pub goers visit their local for the food.
Commenting on the findings, Rachael Kiss from Alliance Online said: “It’s so important to support your local pub when you can and eating out is a great way to do so. Our data shows that you don’t need to break the bank to enjoy a homecooked pub lunch and it’s surprising to see the regions where locals can enjoy a pub meal at such a low price.
“While it’s great to see so many places where more affordable meals are available, it’s important to understand that many of our local pubs are under increasing operational and financial pressures so even if it’s just a treat every once in a while, supporting your local goes a long way!”
The cheapest places in the UK for a pub meal
| Rank | Town/City | Country | Average Cost of Pub Meal for Two |
| 1 | Swansea | Wales | £17.00 |
| 2 | Gloucester | England | £22.00 |
| – | Kingston upon Hull | England | £22.00 |
| – | Coventry | England | £22.00 |
| 3 | Southend-on-Sea | England | £24.00 |
| – | Leeds | England | £24.00 |
| 4 | Sunderland | England | £25.00 |
| – | Leicester | England | £25.00 |
| 5 | Portsmouth | England | £26.00 |
| – | Stoke-on-Trent | England | £26.00 |
| – | Birmingham | England | £26.00 |
| 6 | Cardiff | Wales | £28.00 |
| 7 | Dundee | Scotland | £29.00 |
| – | Peterborough | England | £29.00 |
| – | Preston | England | £29.00 |
| – | Sheffield | England | £29.00 |
| – | Liverpool | England | £29.00 |
| 8 | Norwich | England | £30.00 |
| 9 | Reading | England | £31.00 |
| 10 | Cambridge | England | £32.00 |
| – | Luton | England | £32.00 |
