Pubs in Temple Bar have been slammed for “extortionate” prices with some selling pints for almost €10.
Dublin Live visited six pubs in the Dublin city centre hot-spot and found three charging over €9.50. The Temple Bar Pub, which was bustling with tourists, was the most expensive.
A pint of Heineken, Carlsberg, Hophouse 13, Bulmers, or Orchard Thieves costs an eye-watering €9.95 – believed to be the dearest in the country. Guinness or Murphys will set revellers back €8.95 while a half pint costs €4.95.
South African Robbie Mullins who was boozing with some pals said he was in shock at how expensive his beers cost. He said: “I genuinely thought the barman was joking. The prices here are absolutely crazy, I can’t believe it.”
Scottish pals Heather McMillin, Leigh McCracken, Ellie Watkins and Julie Gibb who were visiting from Scotland said they visited the boozer – despite warnings. Leigh said a cousin and a colleague from Ireland and told her to steer clear but she said she couldn’t come to Dublin and not visit.
She added: “Everybody tells you not to go but you just want to go and visit for yourself.” Ellie agreed, saying: “Everybody knows about this pub so it was worth it to come even though we only had the one because it’s so expensive.
“It’s a lot more expensive than Scotland but the measures for spirits are bigger in Ireland compared to back home so that’s a positive.” Xu Quin from China said: “The prices aren’t normal. I’ve come down from Belfast where it is cheaper.”
Down the road at Oliver St. John Gogarty’s prices weren’t much cheaper with a pint of Heineken and Rockshore costing €9.90 while the black stuff will set punters back €8.90. The boozer was also selling 330ml bottles of Heineken, Coors, and Rockshore for €8.20 while a shot of vodka, whiskey, or gin was €9.50.
The Merchant’s Arch, near the Ha’penny Bridge, was selling Rockshore Cider for €8.50 during “regular hours” but this rose to €9.50 during “late hours”. Lagers Hophouse 13, Rockshore, Rockshore Light, Carlsberg, and Tuborg cost €8.30 but this went up to €9.30 for late drinkers.
Read more: Which Dublin pub serves the best pint of Guinness - have your say
And a pint of Chieftain was €8.60 during “regular hours” and €9.60 during “late hours”. They were also selling mixers for €3.90 while a Red Bull cost €6.80.
All the pubs who were selling pints for more than €9 said there was live music every day. Javier Arroyo from Chile, who was walking through the tourist mecca, said: “The prices in this area are higher than in others. Some pubs are charging nearly €10, it’s not worth it.
“Temple Bar is like a meeting point. It’s close to everything, it’s safer than the other side of the river.” Consumers’ Association Chairman Michael Kilcoyne said pubs were getting away with charging such high prices because people continued to pay it.
He added: “It’s off the walls stuff, that’s extortionate. The fact tourists are willing to pay for it is a problem and that’s why these guys keep charging it. If the pubs weren’t able to sell it and people were going in and finding out the price and turning their heels, the pubs would soon adjust their prices.
“It’s extortionate but it’s up to the consumer at the end of the day. You can get a pint not too far for a lot cheaper.” Just a short walk from Temple Bar, O’Reilly’s on Tara Street is selling all pints including Guinness and Heineken for €5.
General Manager Feng Yang told Dublin Live earlier this month: “The prices are €5 all the time. There is no happy hour or stuff like that. People are really happy about the prices. All the main pints are €5 except for two premium beers which cost €5.50.”
Read next:
Ryan Tubridy tops RTE's highest earners once again as Claire Byrne jumps up list
Man hospitalised following collision with car during Dublin city centre protest
Sales of new diesel and petrol cars will be phased out across Europe by 2035
Forecaster predicts when 'Beast from the East' likely to strike Ireland
Dublin jobs: Lidl announces 200 new roles for the capital this year
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
