Thinking of pouring your next pint at home instead of the pub? A trip to Calais Vins or Olivier Vins could slash your beer costs thanks to duty-free PerfectDraft kegs, VAT refunds and free ferry crossings.
What Is a PerfectDraft Keg?
The PerfectDraft system is a home beer tap that uses 6-litre kegs. Each keg contains around 10.5 pints of chilled draught beer, giving you that pub-fresh taste at home. Popular brands include Leffe, Stella Artois, Jupiler, Kwak, and Goose Island IPA.
UK Prices: How Much Per Pint?
In the UK, a typical PerfectDraft keg sells between £29.90 and £39.90. This translates to:
- £29.90 keg = £2.85 per pint
- £35.00 keg = £3.33 per pint
- £39.90 keg = £3.80 per pint
Note: These are typical prices from UK retailers like BeerHawk.co.uk and PerfectDraft.com, excluding delivery fees.
Price Per Pint: How Much Cheaper Is It at Calais Vins and Olivier Vins?
At Calais Vins, PerfectDraft kegs are available from just €19.90 to €32.90 (including VAT), with even lower Duty Free prices available for UK residents shopping in person. Once you apply the VAT refund (up to 15%), your effective price drops further. check out our dedicated guide on PerfectDraft keg prices in France for a full breakdown by brand.
Let’s convert this into pounds and calculate the cost per pint::
| Brand | Tax-Free Price (€) | Approx. GBP | Per Pint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jupiler | €22.02 | £19.60 | £1.87 |
| Stella Artois | €22.53 | £20.05 | £1.91 |
| Bud | €23.38 | £20.81 | £1.98 |
| Leffe Blonde | €23.76 | £21.15 | £2.01 |
| Hoegaarden White | €25.42 | £22.62 | £2.15 |
| Diekirch Premium | €26.27 | £23.38 | £2.22 |
| Leffe Brune | €24.56 | £21.85 | £2.08 |
| Kwak | €29.67 | £26.40 | £2.51 |
| Leffe Ruby | €30.18 | £26.86 | £2.56 |
| Tripel Karmeliet | €31.88 | £28.37 | £2.70 |
| Goose Island IPA | €32.22 | £28.66 | £2.73 |
| Leffe Prestige 1240 | €32.26 | £28.70 | £2.73 |
| Leffe Bleu | €33.92 | £30.19 | £2.87 |
? How Much Can You Save?
Let’s take a few examples:
- Stella Artois: UK: £3.33/pint vs. Calais: £1.91/pint → save £1.42/pint → £14.91 per keg
- Leffe Blonde: UK: £3.50/pint vs. Calais: £2.01/pint → save £1.49/pint → £15.65 per keg
- Tripel Karmeliet: UK: £3.80/pint vs. Calais: £2.70/pint → save £1.10/pint → £11.55 per keg
Multiply those savings by 5–10 kegs… you’ve covered your ferry ticket (which might be free anyway, see below).
Maximizing Your Savings at Calais Vins
With free ferry crossings from Dover on pre-orders over €300, Calais Vins makes it easy and affordable to stock up on kegs. British shoppers can claim up to 15% VAT refunds and bring back up to 42 litres of beer per adult — that’s 7 kegs per person! If you combine this trip with mates (for instance your pub mates), you can multiple this allowance by the number of persons.
Real-Life Example: 4 Mates in the Pub vs. PerfectDraft at Home
Now let’s put it into context with a typical pub night out — and compare it to drinking the same volume with PerfectDraft at home.
According to the article in the Guardian "pubs say average cost of a pint will rise above 5 Pounds", the average UK pint is now £5.01. Let’s say 4 friends go to the pub and each drink 3–4 pints. That’s around 14–16 pints in total.
Pub cost: 16 pints × £5.01 = £80.16
PerfectDraft cost (e.g. Jupiler): £19.60 for 10.5 pints → 2 kegs = £39.20 for 21 pints
Per pint: £1.87 → Total saving: Over £40 for one evening!
It’s easy to see how stocking up at Calais Vins pays for itself quickly — especially if you host friends often or enjoy high-quality beers at home.
Conclusion: Is It Worth It?
Without a doubt. By combining low keg prices, Duty Free VAT savings, and free ferry offers, Calais Vins gives UK beer lovers unbeatable value on PerfectDraft kegs. Whether you’re picking up a few kegs or planning a big shop with friends, the per-pint savings can be massive.
Ready to skip the £5 pints? Browse our full PerfectDraft range, plan your visit, and bring the pub home — for half the price.