Royal Ascot drinks prices compared to Wimbledon as sport fans given clear winner

A word of caution for punters at this year’s Royal Ascot hoping to toast their victories or drown their sorrows – the price might need considering.

The prestigious event begins on Tuesday and is set to run for a dizzying five days, with calendars cleared to make the most of the occasion. Indeed, one English jockey – Rachel King – has even put off her honeymoon to make her debut at Royal Ascot – days after walking down the aisle.

And with a few and warm sunny days ahead, this year’s Royal Ascot is certainly poised to be an entertaining one, if not a thirsty one. Yet, if thirst is what you’re setting out to quench, there will be a high price to pay to do so.

Prices at last year’s Royal Ascot left punters stunned by the sharp uptick in prices, and another summer of expensive prices await for racegoers.

A pint of Guinness will cost £7.50 and a pint of Grolsch is set at £6.50 this year, while a bottle of Peroni will cost a more impressive £7.60. For those looking to splash the cash, a jug of Pimms will do the trick at a whopping £39.50, a price hike of two quid from last year.

Meanwhile, a bottle of Palmer champagne will set punters back a king’s ransom, fetching £75, a price hike of three quid. Other alcohol is set to remain at last year’s prices, meaning a glass of wine will cost £8, with a gin and tonic requiring the sacrifice of £8.90.

The prices arrive shortly after Cheltenham Festival came under fire for their extortionate drink prices, which left many social media users and punters beyond themselves.

The event charged attendees an eye-watering £7.50 for draught Guinness, Madri Lager, Aspall Suffolk Cyder and Atlantic Pale Ale, while bottles of lager, bitter and cider range from £7.40-£7.65, while all 187ml wines are a huge £9.70. Single spirits went for anywhere between £7 and £7.60, with 330ml cans of soft drink even coming in at £3.

Perhaps most startling, a 750ml bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne cost £110, while house Champagne and rose Champagne came in at £75 and £48 respectively.

Both events’ prices have been compared to those at last year’s Wimbledon, where the racing prices are stark in comparison.

Indeed, only a glass of wine was more expensive, coming in at a glaring £9.70. Meanwhile , Guinness and all ales were 30p cheaper at £7.20, while they also offered a host of bottled beers for under £7, including Camden Pale Ale at £6.50. At Wimbledon, a bottle of Stella Artois stood at £7.55, five pence cheaper than a bottle of Peroni at Royal Ascot.

Single spirits with a mixer come to £6.90 at Wimbledon , far cheaper than that offered at Royal Ascot in the coming days. Indeed, there’s not much in it – but tennis fans will get the last laugh on this occasion.