Birmingham German Market visitors livid at £21 for beer and hotdog - full price list

Visitors to Birmingham's German Christmas market have shared their frustration at being charged £21 for a beer and a hotdog. The Frankfurt Christmas Market, which claims to be the largest authentic German market outside of Germany or Austria, came under fire as revellers called it a "rip-off" after prices soared when festivities began on Friday.

A two-pint stein of the popular Hofbrau German wheat beer is now £12.50, and a half-metre Bratwurst sausage will set you back £9. Even a bag of roasted almonds has reached a price of £4.50.

Moreover, frustration grew as visitors criticised new restrictions that limit patrons to purchasing just one drink per bar visit, a move intended to curb inebriation despite long queues. Some attendees are now considering snubbing the event this year due to these changes, particularly taking issue with the alcohol policy.

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Long-time visitor John Beard, 35, a city worker from Perry Barr, Birmingham expressed his discontent: "This will be the first time in ten years I'm not going to bother."

"For what it costs, it's really not worth it because it's absolutely rammed and you're just standing about in the cold essentially. The stalls are the same each year too.

"People are watching the pennies more than ever and don't want to spend nearly a tenner on a sausage. You can blow about £50 in ten minutes."

Others aired their disappointment online. John Coles said: "Was good when it first started now going down hill rapidly."

Jeanette Bennison noted: "I've visited a couple of times years ago and I didn't think much of it prices were high then a rip off and stalls selling the same stuff all the way round."

Trevor Smith remarked: "The last time I went there I got a hot dog and coffee cost me 15 quid I said to the bloke what part of Germany you from he said Tipton."

Furthermore, a regular bratwurst with a full pint of beer is now priced at an all-time high of £13.50 — both items having increased by 50p since 2023 when the prices remained unchanged from the previous year.

While complaints have surfaced over the cost of culinary offerings at the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market, certain prices have notably remained fixed: a half-pint of beer still stands at £4.50, a boozy hot chocolate costs £7, garlic bread is available for £4, and crepes start from £4.50. Despite some grumbling, this renowned market was voted the finest Christmas market in the UK for 2023 and claimed the eighth spot across Europe.

Moreover, some regulars plan to return, unfazed by the pricing. Birmingham local Tony Jones expressed his enthusiasm: "I think it's amazing, it's the best time of the year and it's really entertaining. It's once a year and I come every year. I love it, I do."

He went on to highlight the festive ambience, "Everybody is really happy, it's a great atmosphere."

His partner Chloe Flynn admitted: "It is expensive for the beers, but because its German beer you don't even need that many to get drunk."

Birmingham German Market price list

• Double pint of beer - £12.50.
• Pint of beer - £7.
• Half-pint of beer - £4.50.
• Wheat beer - £6.50.
• Shandy pint - £7.
• Alcohol-free beer - £7.
• Gluhwein - £6.50.
• Aperol Spritz - £7.50.
• Prosecco - £6.
• Hot chocolate with Baileys - £7.
• Bratwurst - £6.50.
• Half-metre-long bratwurst - £9.
• Frankfurt sausage - £5.50.
• Currywurst - £7.
• Vegan bratwurst - £6.50.
• Burger - £5.
• Pork steak - £7.
• Chips - £4.
• Garlic bread - £4.
• Falafel wrap - £6.
• Pretzels - £4.
• Crepes - £4.50.
• Roasted almonds (per 100g) - £4.50.
• Churros - £4.50.