Beer prices in London are among the most expensive in the world. But Brighton and Hove is swiftly catching up with the capital and, in some cases, outstripping it.

Some say the cause is the millions of visitors to the city and the large number of students while others blame the London-waged commuters.

Some pub landlords are worried they may end up paying for the high price of beer as they see the pubs get emptier as people drink with friends at home after a trip to the off licence.

Erica, manager of the Biscuit Factory in Hove, said: "You can become cocooned in Brighton - you don't realise how expensive it is until you go out somewhere else with £30 and come back with change."

Although there is often not a huge gap in prices between London and Brighton - sometimes just a few pence - the point is nowhere should be as expensive as the capital where workers have the benefit of London-weighted wages.

According to Unison, the largest trade union for public sector workers, this is between £2,000 and £4,000 a year.

Even with city status and its many attractions, Brighton and Hove cannot compete with the theatres, galleries, cinemas and countless major tourist traps in London.

Student Brendan Wyer, 22, said: "Brighton is like some kind of booze-fuelled theme park where, for three years, you have got a loan to help you but as soon as that time is up, you realise that the city is designed for the rich and the commuters."

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) released the results of its latest price survey last month, revealing that the South-East was the most expensive region for real ale.

Since last year, punters pay an extra 4.6 per cent - more than any other area in the country. The results showed a pint of real ale cost, on average, £2.15 compared with London's £2.13.

The Camra researchers may well not have reached Brighton because £2.75 was the priciest pint of lager they could find in the South-East, as opposed to £2.90 in London.

Neil Woodcock, owner of Brighton Rock in Kemp Town, believes he is justified in what he charges.

He said: "There are only half a dozen nice places to drink in Brighton that are safe, comfortable and clean, with good music, loo paper in the toilets and smart staff who know what they're doing, whereas there are far more in London.

"So I think the ones that are nice are entitled to charge a bit more."