Butcombe Group, which operates pubs from Mayfair in London to St Aubin in Jersey, has reported a strong performance for the year ended 25th January.
Total Managed like for likes grew by 7.8%, with a standout performance in food at 12% growth. Both accommodation and drink grew by 4% and 5% respectively.
The strong performance was supported by significant trade taken in the mornings, with customers enjoying breakfast and brunch options. This, combined with an all-day offering on food, reaffirms the group’s belief that providing alternatives to traditional pub meal times presents a substantial growth opportunity.
Continued investment in events and occasions has also paid off, with growing demand for weddings, celebrations, shoots, and business meetings.
London pubs have all shown significant growth, with all sites performing well and strong returns being achieved following investments at Punch Bowl, Brown Cow, and The Fulham Arms.
The Butcombe Brewing and Drinks business has continued to grow, with an especially strong performance in free trade. Butcombe’s award-winning non-alcoholic Goram IPA Zero, on draught and packaged, and the newly-launched Tall Tales Pale Ale Zero grew strongly, driven by increased distribution in the off-trade and free Trade.
The roll-out of the group’s premium Butcombe Boutique Inns has progressed to plan, with six pubs now launched and four sites under investment: The Methuen Arms, Corsham, The Lion at Winchcombe, The Castle Inn, West Lulworth, and The White Horse, Chilgrove. These will all re-open over the next few months.
“These strong results are a testament to our amazing teams and to our ever-evolving strategy that places customers at the heart of what we do,” said chief executive, Jonathan Lawson.
“In our managed pubs business, we are redefining what the pub can and needs to be in order to be successful and viable in the years ahead. Still retaining the unique essence of a local pub, but also developing the offer and maximising the amenity to capture new markets such as mornings, weddings, and business meetings, and in turn welcome new customers with new reasons to visit our great pubs and inns.
“Likewise in our Brewing and Drinks business, we continue to be delighted by the strength of established and much-loved beers, such as Butcombe Original, whilst also innovating and responding to consumer needs with the development of Tall Tales Zero Pale Ale, our second ‘low and no’.’’
