Landlord lifts ban selling half pints - but charges staggering amount

A pub landlord has removed a ban on selling half pints - but now has them on offer for a shocking price.

After flatly reusing to serve the smaller sized beverages for two years John Bittles, the owner of Bittles Bar in Belfast, has decided to change his ways.

But although half-pints will now be on offer they come with an eye-watering price tag of £4.95 - only 85p less than a full pint.

Mr Bittles first made headlines in 2022 when he announced that his pub would no longer be serving half measures of Guinness.

He also previously made a sign which read 'No Coke drinkers', though the pub has since lifted its ban on soft drinks under a strict condition.

Mr Bittles said he changed his mind to appease the influx of tourists brought to the area by a spike in the number of cruise ships docking in the Northern Irish capital.

He explained to the Metro: 'Touristy people especially are coming looking for a half pint, so I've worked out what I have to do to make it worth my while.'

He added that although the half pints come at a steep price, he has received no complaints thus far.

Mr Bittles said while some choose to buy a full pint when they realise the cost, others are happy to pay more for a half as some are just 'not pint-drinking people, they are more half-pint people'.

Before they stopped serving half pints, Mr Bittles said customers were taking up tables for too long and spending too little which he couldn't 'justify'.

The number of spaces in what is already one of Belfast's smallest pubs is limited due to its table service policy.

He now sells soft drinks on their own, but only on the condition that the customer is with someone buying an alcoholic drink.

The ban on half pints caused quite the stir and sent Mr Bittles into national and international newspapers after a customer complained on social media that he had been refused a glass of Coke at the bar.

John insisted it was a case of 'banter' taken the wrong way.