Is this the cheapest pint in Britain? West Midlands boozer is selling bitters and cider for £2.30 – almost £2 less than the average price
Punters are flocking to a West Midlands pub that is selling pints for just £2.30 (the average price 15 years ago), making it possibly Britain's cheapest.
The Waggon and Horses in Oldbury is selling all beers, ciders and ales at £2.90 or less to encourage customers to drink in traditional local pubs.
While other places have previously lowered the cost of one or two brands, customers don't think anywhere can beat the price for their entire drink selection.
The old-school Black Country drinker said he wanted to 'give back' to locals with bargain beer at a time when many people are struggling with the cost of living.
A pint of Stella will now cost you just £2.80, while Carling, Coors and John Smiths costs £2.40 and a pint of Thatcher's Gold or Brew XI bitter costs £2.30.
Above is Mandy Merrix, the manager of The Waggon and Horses pub in Oldbury, West Midlands.
The average cost of a pint in Britain now exceeds £4 – £4.30 for the first time, up from £2.30 in 2008, during the last recession.
And a pint in London's West End can now cost more than £9, while one in ten taverns sell between £6 and £6.99 and 40 per cent charge an average of £4.58.
Tenant Matthew Porter said: 'I've had this pub for seven years and it's a real local pub. It deserves to be busy every day.
“On either side of us there are multi-million dollar companies raising their prices, and we're lowering ours saying, 'come and drink with us.'
'Nowadays you have to think outside the box a bit. We just looked at how low we could drop our prices and survive at the same time.
“As long as we keep the place packed all day, every day, we should be able to pay the bills and people can get cheap beer so everyone stays happy.
'It's tough for people at the moment, some are struggling and aren't going to spend £40 on a Friday night anymore.
'But if that suddenly becomes more of an evening for ten euros, we hope that people will be more inclined to come and have a drink with us.
The drinks menu at The Waggon and Horses pub in Oldbury has remained cheap as the owners have done their best to keep beer prices as low as they were 15 years ago
'We want to keep the traditional pubs going. They are part of communities and connect everywhere. I think the younger generations will forget how to socialize.
'But to keep our prices low, we need people to show their support.
“We are lowering prices for everyone, but we need them to show their support to keep prices low.
“We just want to give something back.”
The small, traditional pub serves corn on the cob sandwiches daily and has four TVs showing live sports and events.
Matthew added: 'The architecture inside is phenomenal. There are old-fashioned tiled floors and ceilings and a real fireplace.
'The café is small, but that is compensated by the atmosphere.'
Pub customer George Scott, 67, from Oldbury, added: 'It's a great little pub and I'll be coming back here more often now that the prices are so low.
The exterior of The Waggon and Horses pub in Oldbury, West Midlands
'Thanks to them. Right now, prices seem to be rising in every aspect of life, so it's surprising to see them falling somewhere.
'I've heard of pubs cutting the price of a pint or two, but here they've cut virtually their entire offering, which is unheard of.
'You let others drink £1 a pint for a certain number of hours on one day a week, but it's great to keep prices this low all the time.
'It must be the cheapest pub in the country in terms of offering.'
Geordie Gordon, 62, originally from Newcastle and now living in Oldbury, has been drinking at the Waggon and Horse for 15 years.
He said, 'Yes, I love it. I've just got back from Cardiff where I paid £6 a pint and that was the cheapest.
'So when you come back here where the prices are so low, it becomes much more affordable to have a pint.
'The prices are now comparable to when I first came fifteen years ago. It's a nice little pub and everyone knows each other.
Local resident 'Georgie' Gordon is pictured enjoying a pint of bitters from the great value menu
'You get some new faces every now and then, like away fans when the Baggies play and now we're seeing more of them thanks to the cheap prices.'
Another punter, Michael Brennan, 50, from Great Bridge, added: 'My drink is Stella which is usually quite pricey so to get it for £2.80 is a bargain.
'And £2.30 per Thatchers is crazy these days. But I'm glad this is my local branch and I hope it attracts more customers.'
The Waggon and Horses is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 11pm and on Sunday from 11.30am to 11pm.