UK’s Favourite Winter Warmer Drinks Revealed

The winter months are loved by many for being the cosiest time of the year, as people bundle up with blankets, by crackling fires or with a warming drink in front of the TV.

Many people will have their go-to drink for the winter months, to help thaw out from the cold after a trip outside, so Premier Inn has commissioned a new study to reveal exactly which hot beverages are the most popular in the UK.

The Nations Favourite Winter Warmers, Based on Popularity

Tier
Drink
Percentage who enjoy as a warming drink (%)
‘God’ tier
Hot Chocolate
40.0%
Top tier
Speciality Coffee
(inc. Pumpkin Spiced Latte, Matcha Latte)
17.5%
Liqueur Coffee
13.6%
Mulled Wine
12.6%
Mid tier
Hot Ribena
9.7%
Hot Lemonade
8.2%
Warm Cider
7.0%
Hot Toddy
6.6%
Bovril
6.2%
Low tier
Chai Latte/Dirty Chai/Masala Chai
5.8%
Rum Punch
5.8%
Winter Pimm’s
4.4%
Cranberry Punch
4.2%
Worst tier
Eggnog
3.9%
Black Velvet
3.1%
Boozy Tea
3.0%
Mead
2.7%
From the traditional hot toddy to more seasonal festive treats like mulled wine, there are many choices on offer to suit all tastebuds, but it’s hot chocolate which takes the ‘god tier’ top spot, with 2 in 5 (40%) of those surveyed saying that the comforting drink is their go-to.

The evolution of drinks over the years has been remarkable, with seasonal editions of classic coffees, such as the pumpkin spice latte, surging in popularity and seeing viral success each year. As a result, the fun alternatives to the classics are popular with many, giving speciality coffees second place on the list, with 18% saying it’s their drink of choice.

Following closely behind, but also in the top tier, are liqueur coffees, such as an Irish Coffee, which allow people to pep up their caffeine kick with something a little stronger and are often enjoyed as a post-dinner treat. Though it’s not to all tastes, mulled wine also proves popular as a winter tipple, with 13% enjoying the spice-laden, steaming wine.

While hot Ribena (9.7%), hot lemonade (8.2%), warm cider (7%) and the traditional hot toddy (6.6%) are all relatively popular, one of the bigger surprises is that Bovril ranks above the chai latte to take the final spot in the mid-tier, making it the 10th most popular winter drink. The concentrated meat extract, which has a salty and umami flavour, can be diluted in hot water to make a rich, hearty drink and seems to be particularly enjoyed by Glaswegians according to the study.

A Premier Inn spokesperson commented: “Winter is synonymous with frosty days and cosy nights, making it a great time to explore destinations that come alive with seasonal markets and light displays. After a chilly outing, there’s nothing better than coming back to a warming drink, so we’ve enjoyed finding out which are the nation’s favourites among the many seasonal drinks on offer. With each of us having personal preferences, it’s no surprise that there are some slightly more unusual options in the higher tiers of the list – though Bovril was a bit higher than we expected!

“Regardless of what appeals to your taste buds, we have a selection of comforting drinks available at all of our Premier Inn locations, so no matter how chilly the weather, you’ll be able to shake off the cold and relax indoors whenever you’re staying with us.”