Hall & Woodhouse said sales to visitors of its pubs and a strong performance from the Badger range of beers had helped return profitability to levels seen before the pandemic. The group, which also operates the one-of-a-kind Ship and Shovell in Charing Cross – London’s sole pub with two freeholds on either side of a street – saw turnover climb by 11.4% to £122m during the year ending 27 January.
That helped pre-tax profits surge 52.1% to £6.5 million after the sale of its soft drinks business Rio to Irn Bru maker AG Barr in a deal worth around £12.3 million below expectations it has saved money through improving trading and cost-cutting measures that have delivered ahead-of-schedule savings, while consolidation was also part-funded by disposal proceeds from Edinburgh-based ethical-glamour health snacks producer Emma. A dividend of £1.5 million was awarded to the company in March.
Chairman Anthony Woodhouse said: “The company delivered an excellent performance, despite well-known challenges in our industry.
‘Our managed houses enjoyed a very successful year, delivering like-for-like increases in total sales and customer numbers,‘ he said. “Rebranded Badger range performed well in an intensely competitive premium bottled ale market…” New in our pubs, craft ale line Outland from the Badger Brewery also performed and has shown promise across the wider market. Contract brewing and packaging— achieved significant growth, largely due to a major new contract.
Hall & Woodhouse has over 150 pubs in the South West of England and eight sites in London. The Firm is synonymous with beers such as Tangle Foot, Hopping Hare, and Fursty Ferret ales in its native Dorset.