Birmingham Christmas Market branded 'rip-off' as prices soar – with a beer and a sausage costing over £30

Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market, billed as the largest authentic German market outside of Germany or Austria, has been branded a "rip-off" by festive revellers after prices for food and drink shot up.

Punters have been left stunned by the cost of a two-pint stein of Hofbrau German wheat beer, which now costs £14. With an additional £7 glass deposit, the upfront cost for a single drink totals £21.

Adding to the expense, a half-metre Bratwurst, a market staple, will set visitors back £9.50, with onions costing an extra £1. This means a beer and a sausage could leave revellers more than £30 out of pocket.

Other eye-watering prices include £22 for a box of 20 chocolate marshmallows and £7.50 for a hot chocolate with a shot of Jägermeister.

Matt Hunt, 45, and his wife Gemma, 43, from Solihull, are regular visitors but believe the prices have become excessive. Matt, a project coordinator and father-of-three, noted: "It is quite expensive, normally we do it towards the end of the stay but this is the first time we've done it on the first day.

“We'll usually come once and get one of the burgers with mushroom and potatoes. That was fairly cheap last year but it's £10 now. I think it's all gone up a little bit, it's a discrete price increase."

Gemma added that bringing their three children would be too costly. "We couldn't come with the kids here. We have three kids and they would just want a sausage each, it would get expensive.

“It'd be nearly £30 for three sausages for them - which is a rip-off. We got one of these big beers and a can of Fanta and that was £24 just for those two, which is a lot."

Matt concluded: "We won't be coming again this year, now we've done it."

Prices have seen a significant jump since last year. A two-pint Hofbrau has risen from £12.50 to £14, while a pint of Weissbier is up from £6.50 to £8. Single pints of Hofbrau and shandy have also increased by £1, now costing £8 each.

One disgruntled visitor exclaimed: "I know everything has gone up but this is ridiculous - it's like Scrooge has been put in charge of pricing."

Further frustrations stem from new restrictions limiting visitors to one drink per bar visit, a measure intended to curb drunkenness but which has led to longer queues.

Grandparents Alan, 72, and Fiona Evans, 71, from Northfield, Birmingham, opted to bypass the market's food stalls entirely after seeing the prices, heading to Greggs for a £1 mince pie instead.

Alan commented: "We had a look at the market, some of the prices are a bit ridiculous. I suppose they have to make a profit but it's a lot for what it is." Fiona added: "We had a look at the market and it was just too expensive for us."

Despite the price hikes, the market was recently voted the third best Christmas market in the UK, behind Edinburgh and Manchester.

A spokesperson for Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd addressed the concerns: "Since 2022 prices on our food and drink stalls have been frozen, however as essential costs continue to rise – from importing goods and higher energy prices, to increased National Insurance and visa costs for market staff – we had no choice but to put most prices up by 50p or so this year.

“We need to make money so that the market remains viable for future years. When prices for drinks are quoted, they are seen as expensive, but this is because the initial deposit on glasses and mugs is included – this is returned when the glass or mug is returned to the stall."

Here’s how the prices have changed since last year:

• Pint of Weissbier - £8 (£6.50 last year)
• Pint of shandy - £8 (£7 last year)
• Pint of Hofbrau - £8 (£7 last year)
• Half pint of Hofbrau - £5 (£4 last year)
• Two-pint stein of Hofbrau - £14 (£12.50 last year)
• Half-metre Bratwurst - £9.50 (£9 last year)
• Garlic bread with ham and cheese - £7
• Hot chocolate with Bailey's - £7.50
• Chips - £6
• Burger - £10
• Churros with sugar - £7
• Christmas melt toastie - £9