ARKELLS heralded its post-budget price cut on a pint with a fanfare.

But when it decided to raise prices again, it did so with little more than a whimper.

Drinkers who have enjoyed five pence off their pint of 3Bs or 2Bs have noticed the price creep up again this week.

The Kingsdown-based brewery has admitted there has been a price increase but insists a barrel of beer still costs less than it did this time last year.

It passed on the effect of a ruling in the budget that gave tax breaks to small breweries.

It meant five pence off its range of beers from June 1 in time for the World Cup and Golden Jubilee celebrations.

But now the brewery says it has had to increase the price of a 3Bs barrel of beer by £8.

That relates to a wholesale prise rise of 2.7p a pint, although this is likely to be added to by individual landlords.

Brewery spokeswoman Nicky Godding said: "Unfortunately, rising costs of fuel and tax have pushed costs up.

"Arkell's beer prices were increased on Monday, but with Arkell's passing on the Government's duty reduction on June 1 this year, the wholesale price of Arkell's beer is still less than last year.

"We would normally have had a price increase at the beginning of June or July, but unlike most other breweries across the UK, the brewery delayed the increase until September.

"We contacted all our pubs when the five pence reduction was made in June to let them know that it planned to delay an increase until September."

Arkells employs around 150 staff.

Its first beer was created in 1843 by John Arkell and, as one of Britain's oldest independent breweries, it continues to brew traditionally on site and also runs a wine merchant as well as support services for its pubs.