Butcombe Group, the pub operator and brewing group, with sites stretching from London to Jersey, has reported results for the year ended 25th January 2025.
The company saw record revenues of £149 million, versus £144.4m in the previous year. Managed pubs strongly outperformed the sector, with like-for-like revenue up by 7.8%.
Brewing and drinks achieved 8.4% growth in the UK free trade.
The company has carried this momentum into the new financial year, achieving Q1 like-for-like sales growth of 11.1%, underpinned by strong performances in food (+10.3%), drink (+13.3%), and accommodation (+5.3%).
“Notably, we delivered our highest-ever trading day on Mother’s Day, surpassing our previous record set on Christmas Day, further highlighting the strength of our proposition,” said Butcombe Group chief executive, Jonathan Lawson.
Strong positioning
“The brewing and drinks division was broadly flat versus last year in Q1. Once again, the UK free trade performance led the way growing by 8% versus last year, with online ordering now adding a further service provision to our customers, and driving basket spend.
“The success of Goram IPA Zero, our award-winning low-alcohol IPA, has encouraged us to develop Tall Tales Pale Ale Zero, a refreshing pale ale that will be perfect for the summertime.”
He added: “While we remain mindful of the ongoing inflationary pressures and changes to National Insurance contributions that impact the broader hospitality sector, we are confident in our strategy.
“Our continued focus on premium segments, operational efficiencies, and customer-centric innovation positions us strongly for sustained EBITDA growth and margin enhancement through the rest of the year.”
