02/09/2025 09:39:00
Greene King has urged the Chancellor to introduce a lower business rates multiplier at the upcoming Autumn Budget in a bid to save its licensees more than £13m, reports Morning Advertiser. Licensees of 613 Greene King pubs have signed an open letter to Rachel Reeves calling for business rates reformation to provide "breathing space to invest" in their pubs. The letter called for a specific, lower business rates multiplier for all pubs at the Autumn Budget, giving them a 20p discount on their current rate. Greene King estimated the move could realise £13.7m in immediate annual savings across its managed pub estate if introduced at the Budget, or an average of £10,000 per pub.
The owner and operator of Boom Battle Bar has increased its revenue and profits over the past 12 months, according to its latest financial results. XP Factory, which also owns the Escape Hunt brand, saw group revenue to 31 March 2025 increase by 19% to £57.8m, compared to £48.6m in the prior year, advises Pub & Bar. The growth is attributed to the number of openings across both brands over the past year. Escape Hunt owner-operated site revenue increased by 7% to £14.2m, while Boom Battle Bar owner-operated revenue increased by 29% to £42.2m. Group adjusted EBITDA rose to £10.5m from £9.9m, while adjusted operating profit was £3.5m.
St Austell Brewery has unveiled a multi-million-pound investment at the Pedn Olva pub with rooms in St Ives. The Pedn Olva - one of St Austell Brewery's 45 managed pubs across the South West - now features reconfigured layouts, expansive new terraces and a reimagined interior design which has been inspired by its mining roots and coastal surroundings. The Pedn Olva has been part of St Austell Brewery's managed estate for over 25 years, reports Boutique Hotelier. The pub's transformation marks the sixth major refurbishment in the business's managed estate in the past three years.
With a turnover now approaching the £100m mark, brewer and pub operator Robinsons Brewery has delivered another strong financial year, says Pub & Bar. The business, led by Oliver and William Robinson, has reported a record turnover of £97.7m (2023 £92.3m). It has also continued to increase its operating profit, reaching £6.2m in 2024 (2023 £6.1m). During the course of the year, the north west family brewer has continued to invest in its pub estate and brewhouse, with the consolidation of brewing and production onto one site.
Stonegate has achieved a significant landmark in its ongoing estate transformation programme, successfully converting 200 managed pubs to alternative operating models over a two-year period. The pub giant, which operates approximately 4,300 venues across the UK, has been systematically restructuring its portfolio since chief executive David McDowall assumed leadership in 2023, writes CLH News. The conversion strategy has seen managed sites transition to Leased and Tenanted (L&T) and Craft Union operational frameworks. The company reports an average profit improvement of £110,000 per converted venue. Stonegate's managed estate has contracted from 800 sites to 550 over the past 24 months, representing a strategic shift towards franchise-style operations that the company believes better serves local communities.
Harbour Hotels, a collection of coastal properties around the UK, has reported record-breaking July performances across its portfolio, as the group focuses on driving direct bookings. According to the firm, ADR was up 10% year-on-year in the month of July, while occupancy at Harbour Beach Club peaked at 99% - outpacing 2024's strong summer figures. Looking ahead, Harbour Hotels' Q4 coastal performance is 40% ahead in room nights on the books vs the same time last year, with city locations up 10% - a strong indication that momentum is continuing into the off-season and that demand for British breaks remains buoyant, writes Boutique Hotelier.
New data shows Red Lion and Royal Oak remain UK's most popular pub names, reports Morning Advertiser.