03 February 2024 , 19:15
1040
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Peers and Parliament staff sank almost 15,000 pints of subsidised San Miguel last year, new figures show.
Bars and cafes around the Palace of Westminster serve cheap drinks, meals and snacks to those working in the building. Pints of lager cost between £4.35 and £4.70 - dramatically cheaper than nearby pubs where similar drinks can cost up to £7 a pint.
San Miguel was the most served individual beverage in the top 100 list released under Freedom of Information laws, closely followed by the 14,615 lattes served across the facilities run by the upper chamber.
However when taken together, the different servings of traditional tea was the most sold drink. Large cups and large and small pots of tea were sold a combined 22,179 times across the House.
Herbal tea was in third place with 13,535 cups sold, followed by Estrella lager (12,218), Espresso (12,180) and Gordon's Gin (11,049). Last year we revealed MPs had moaned to Commons officials after being asked to pay more for food, despite dishes being subsidised by taxpayers – and still at bargain prices when compared with high street rates.
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For example, a bowl of soup has risen from 94p to £1.05 and lamb-topped jacket potatoes from £2.79 to £3.30. In comparison, a typical soup at Pret a Manger costs £3.50 and a cheese jacket in a Tesco cafe is £4.95. The meal moans emerged in a list of parliament complaints but officials spared the whingers – on basic salaries of £84,000 – embarrassment by not including their names.
A Commons spokesman said at the time: “Our venues serve thousands every week, including visitors, MPs and journalists, as well as the staff who keep Parliament running.”