Cost of pub meal?

Can anybody give me a rough idea of what we can expect to pay for an evening meal at a pub near the London Eye? We will be staying at the Premier Inn London County Hall, but my husband would prefer to eat at a pub rather than the hotel restaurant. Nothing fancy, we are not beer or wine drinkers.

It will cost at least 50-100% more for a dinner in London than your average dinner in Nevada. London is VERY expensive.

This is probably the nearest pub to the London Eye.

http://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk/slug-countyhall/menus/

It will cost at least 50-100% more for a dinner in London than your average dinner in Nevada. London is VERY expensive.

The disorienting part of reading a menu in London, is that the prices seem very close to the prices on a menu in any major metropolitan city in the US. You may have a brief moment when you ask yourself, "What's all the fuss about London prices?" Then you realize the menu you're reading is priced in GBP which means you're spending 1.5 USD for every 1 GBP.

An actual price will depend on what you want to eat.

Steak tens to be expensive fish and chips or bangers and mash not so much so.

The disorienting part of reading a menu in London, is that the prices seem very close to the prices on a menu in any major metropolitan city in the US. You may have a brief moment when you ask yourself, "What's all the fuss about London prices?" Then you realize the menu you're reading is priced in GBP which means you're spending 1.5 USD for every 1 GBP.

But does include all taxes.

In pubs your gratutity will be change.

In a restaurant 10% is more than enough.

Most of the chains(pubs&restaurants) will have a promotion of some kind usually if you sign up for the emails.

one I use has 30% off now and then, some others just offer a free drink.

The one posted above has 25% off food till end June(for signing) 50% off on mondays a new deal will come along when they expires just look nearer to your sail date.

Mind you most chain pubs are not traditional "pubs".

I would expect to pay around 20GBP plus drinks for a main course lunch in a pub on the South Bank. Vegetables are usually included but you can vary them - salad instead of chips for example). Pudding (sweet) can easily add another 7 or 8GBP (I think that's where most of the the profit is). Portions are normally large.

At most of them you find a table, note the number, and order and pay (in advance) at the bar. Take your own drinks (they will happily sell you soft drinks or spirits - you may have to ask for ice and/or lemon) back to the table and wait. You can open a 'tab' with your credit card and they will swipe it at the bar (the same way a hotel does). You can then order pudding or more drinks and settle at the end.

If you think that the service warrants a tip - give the waiter cash. Five pounds would be fine for up to four people eating. If you are not impressed with the service - don't tip.

Pubs will be crowded at lunch time - 12:00 to 14:00. If you can get in early, you get better food and service.

The prices on Steve's link are a pretty good guide.

As PNN's post, that's about the same in GBP as you'd expect to pay in USD, which ties in with baggal's 50 per cent more.

But the price you see in the USA ain't the price you pay- add tax of say 10 per cent average ( taxes by law are included in menu prices in the UK) and a 20 per cent tip instead of the usual zero to 10 per cent in the Uk and the gap closes significantly.

Portion sizes in the UK, and the rest of Europe, tend to be much smaller but perfectly adequate for most folk.

There's usually no included refills on beverages, if you want another coke or coffee expect to pay for it.

A comparison with Nevada?.

Cheaper than a high end Vegas casino, a little more expensive than a Denny's on the Strip, a lot more expensive than some run-down diner in Parumph. And more expensive than a provincial UK pub.

And those prices in Steve's link vary a lot between, say, fish and chips & steak. Exactly as they do elsewhere in the world.

You can eat pretty economically in the UK, even central London, or you can splash out.

But in central London particularly, just be careful to look out for any service charge, cover charge, and charges for sides. We avoid places that make such charges, which must be disclosed on the menu anda copy of the menu must be available outside the premises.

JB :)

Pub servings tend to be huge so we generally share a starter and a main. You can also get a free jug of water at pubs and most restaurants (some bring it by the glass) which brings the price down considerably if you are on a budget. : )

You can subscribe to Opentable. They often have lunch time deals or half price deals during the week. What puts the price of meals up in London is the cost of an alcoholic drink. Otherwise, you can eat reasonably.

Pub servings tend to be huge so we generally share a starter and a main. You can also get a free jug of water at pubs and most restaurants (some bring it by the glass) which brings the price down considerably if you are on a budget. : )

If two of you are sharing a meal, and not buying any drinks, many pubs would not look kindly at being asked to provide a free jug of water. You're not exactly making their fortune are you ? Do not be surprised therefore if you do get charged for the water, whereas if you've bought a couple of meals and a couple of rounds, a glass of 'tap water' will cheerfully be provided.

If two of you are sharing a meal, and not buying any drinks, many pubs would not look kindly at being asked to provide a free jug of water. You're not exactly making their fortune are you ? Do not be surprised therefore if you do get charged for the water, whereas if you've bought a couple of meals and a couple of rounds, a glass of 'tap water' will cheerfully be provided.

They may not be too happy as you say, but the law says that they have to provide free tap water.

Do pubs and restaurants have to supply free tap water?

 

Yes – if they serve alcohol. The government updated rules requiring establishments to have free tap water available wherever alcohol is sold, in an attempt to combat binge drinking.

 

- See more at: http://www.ccwater.org.uk/waterissues/currentkeywaterissues/tapwaterinrestaurants/#sthash.pkek4OCs.dpuf

They may not be too happy as you say, but the law says that they have to provide free tap water.

I didn't know that! Can't say that it has succeeded in reducing 'binge' drinking. Another law passed by those with no sense of reality, and who drink in the subsided bars in the House of Commons!

Depends on which pub!

In London, if we are going to eat at a pub, we often look for the Wetherspoon's chain which to us gives us the best value where Pub food is concerned. You can google to find out which are the Wetherspoons pubs nearest to you.

This particular pub was at Goodman Fields.

[YOUTUBE]ZoYu_sU-27M[/YOUTUBE]

Well, we are Chinese Singaporeans and we do have a preference for Chinese food, which London Chinatown is famous for.

If you are talking about budget meals in Chinatown, we usually go to this restaurant called Young Cheng. You can get one-dish meals for 5-6 pounds.

This video shows you what we ate.

[YOUTUBE]Vvf2eYOOMfc[/YOUTUBE]

We had two orders of fish and chips (huge portions) and two pints of beer. Including the 12% tip that was added to the bill it was about $50.

We had two orders of fish and chips (huge portions) and two pints of beer. Including the 12% tip that was added to the bill it was about $50.

12% tip - you are being very generous. I assume you added it of your own free will, and that it was not done by the pub.

12% tip - you are being very generous. I assume you added it of your own free will, and that it was not done by the pub.

12.5% service charge is quite commonly added to restaurant bills in UK (especially in cities). It should always be advertised on the menu.

If two of you are sharing a meal, and not buying any drinks, many pubs would not look kindly at being asked to provide a free jug of water. You're not exactly making their fortune are you ? Do not be surprised therefore if you do get charged for the water, whereas if you've bought a couple of meals and a couple of rounds, a glass of 'tap water' will cheerfully be provided.

Bob is right it is a legal requirement in Australia and in Britain that pubs and restaurants provide free tap water.

It isn't just a money saving ploy by me to share an entree and main with my husband. I don't often drink alcohol and I hate to waste food. My dh also hates to waste food so he will eat anything I leave. He is trying to lose weight and I don't eat much so it's good for both of us. I am happy to be given glasses of water but since I go through more than a litre of water with dinner I always ask for a jug. My dh generally has a pint.

The only time we have ever had a problem was when we asked to share a main only at one restaurant. They said we'd have to go to the pub to do that rather than the restaurant. But most restaurants just bring two plates. I don't see much difference between one of us eating alone at a restaurant and both of us sharing a plate.

12.5% service charge is quite commonly added to restaurant bills in UK (especially in cities). It should always be advertised on the menu.

Agreed, but not many pubs that I know of [and my wife thinks I know too many!] add a service charge.

12% tip - you are being very generous. I assume you added it of your own free will, and that it was not done by the pub.

I did not add it to the bill, it was already on there. I didn't notice if the menu mentioned it, but I do know that I should look or ask if I am not sure. When we first started traveling to Europe I doubled tipped in Switzerland and the waiter was very happy. I was a very naive traveler back then :D.

Depends on which pub!

 

In London, if we are going to eat at a pub, we often look for the Wetherspoon's chain which to us gives us the best value where Pub food is concerned. You can google to find out which are the Wetherspoons pubs nearest to you.

 

This particular pub was at Goodman Fields.

[YOUTUBE]ZoYu_sU-27M[/YOUTUBE]

Fair warning: if you are a foody this place is why England used to have a lousy reputation for food. There are really good gastro pubs for those who can spend a few pounds more. London does really have good food for pretty reasonable prices.

I had a good ploughman's + beer at the Wellington pub (Fullers beer) across from Waterloo Station. Stayed there one night too, was clean and comfy; downsides are it would hot in the summer, and it was narrow stairs only up to the rooms.

http://www.wellingtonhotelwaterloo.co.uk/food-and-drink

Fair warning: if you are a foody this place is why England used to have a lousy reputation for food. There are really good gastro pubs for those who can spend a few pounds more. London does really have good food for pretty reasonable prices.

Recommend some good ones (gastro pubs). Maybe I would go try them out when I next visit London. Thanks.

Recommend some good ones (gastro pubs). Maybe I would go try them out when I next visit London. Thanks.

A bit pointless until near the time you visit. Chefs change, pubs change hands - what is good now could be poor in six months time.