Nothing says ‘holiday mode’ quite like a 9am pint – and for one in three Brits, the airport pub is the first stop after clearing security.
A recent study highlighted the importance of a tipple before takeoff, with 75 per cent of UK holidaymakers admitting to sipping on a breakfast beer to get into the holiday spirit.
But as the cost of living rises and tourists report going over budget by an average of £154 on their last holiday, many are hunting for ways to cut down spending on their next trip.
Luckily, the UK airports where travellers can enjoy the cheapest pints and full English breakfasts, ready for a mid-morning nap on the plane, have been revealed.
And, thanks to Wetherspoons, jetsetters departing from five major UK airports can still enjoy a pint for little over a fiver – a rare bargain in today’s travel economy.
In the study of over 140 UK airport bars and restaurants, it was surprisingly London that came out on top.
Stansted Airport, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham International and Edinburgh Airport all tie for the cheapest pint of either Coors Light or Bud Light at just £5.20.
Not far behind is Glasgow Airport, where a pint of Tennent’s Lager at Tennent’s Pier Bar costs £6.25.
Nothing says ‘holiday mode’ quite like a 9am pint – and, for one in three Brits, the airport pub is the first stop after clearing security
Thanks to Wetherspoons, travellers departing from five major UK airports – including London Gatwick (pictured) can still enjoy a pint for little over a fiver
In next place is Hithes London Bar and Eatery at London City Airport, where punters can indulge in a pint of Heineken for £6.95.
Further up the scale, pints come at £6.15 at The Lion and Antelope (Manchester Airport), £6.99 at Sable & Co (Liverpool John Lennon Airport), £7.15 at Nolito (London Luton), and £7.39 at Quaystone Bar (Newcastle International).
But, if a pint isn’t on the cards, the study, carried out by WildPacks American Summer Camp, also looked at the price of hot breakfasts across UK airports.
The cheapest place for this is Leon, at both London Heathrow and London Stansted, which serves up breakfast pots for as little as £6.29.
This is followed by a Edinburgh’s Black Sheep Coffee Wetherspoons, where a breakfast pot is available for £7.39, or a breakfast plate for £9.60.
Meanwhile, at Benito’s (London Luton), a Full English can be purchased for £7.50, along with Tap & Brew (Cardiff) for £8.99, and Wetherspoons (Birmingham) for £9.60.
However, if you’re departing from Manchester Airport, London City Airport or Newcastle Airport, expect to pay more, as Full English breakfasts go for as much as £16.95 per portion.
In light of the study’s findings, Wildpacks’ experts have shared practical tips for cutting costs before you even leave the ground.
Pictured: The Windmill, London Stansted, where punters can enjoy a pint for just £5.20
A Full English can be purchased for £7.50 at Benito’s (London Luton), at Tap & Brew (Cardiff) for £8.99, and Wetherspoons (pictured) at Birmingham for £9.60
They advise holidaymakers to bring their own snacks and bottle, as most airports allow solid food through security, and water can be refilled for free after security.
It’s also important to eat before you leave to spent less on overpriced terminal food and check prices online before falling for ‘discounted’ goods at duty-free.
Avoid travel-sized toiletries, use reusable bottles, pack smart and check in online, as this helps travellers dodge those extra airline charges – and they’ve got more chance of sitting with loved ones.
WildPacks founder Jamie Fraiser adds: ‘We know an Airport pint has become a rite of passage before a big trip – like spending a summer abroad.
‘But with such a discrepancy between venues, it really does pay to know where is the cheapest in every terminal.’
