In September 1985 the Branch carried out a pub prices survey in Ware – it was still possible to buy a pint for 69p.
Here is a summary of that survey and a sample of the information-gathering sheets that were used.
Sadly, many of the pubs have since closed, some have changed in ownership and many have been completely transformed internally. Some of the beers found no longer exist and it is interesting to see that some of the pubs were still operating the 2p difference in price between public and saloon bars which was common in the 1960s and 70s. And the choice of cask ales was much more restrictive than today being governed by the pub owning companies of the day – McMullen’s, Ind Coope and Greene King – all three, along with Whitbread, were major pub owning companies in East Herts. Not a single Free House pub was there in the town to offer a wider range of beer.
Maybe 69p was a worrying price at the time but it certainly seems a snip in 2025!
