UK pub lunch price soars to £20

The average pub price of a steak and kidney pie hit £10.50

The price of pub food has "soared" to an average £20 for a two-course lunch and glass of wine, a new guide says.

Unless pubs "rein in their prices", they risk losing customers, the Good Pub Guide 2008 warns.

The annual guide lists about 5,000 UK pubs and is based on reports from more than 2,000 pub-goers, plus anonymous visits from its editors.

More pubs are relying on food to boost revenues since the smoking ban took effect across the UK, the guide says.

The Good Pub Guide surveyed the menus of 1,069 pubs, looking at the average price of starters and main courses.

The price of a pub main meal, such as steak and kidney pie, costs on average £10.50.

'Overcharging'

The majority of pubs are overcharging customers about 67% for food, the guide says.

"Pubs may well be tempted to push their prices up further, by the present rise in the cost of the raw ingredients," the guide says.

"But that represents only a very small fraction of the prices charged by them."

As for drink, the average pint of bitter costs £2.41, which is 4% up on a year earlier.

The cheapest place to buy a pint is the West Midlands at just over £2, while the most expensive is Surrey, at an average of £2.69.