06/01/2026 09:08:00
Laine has reported a slight fall in profits for the 52 weeks ended 10 August 2025, as higher operating costs and lower turnover offset continued investment across its pub estate. The Publican's Best Late Night Operator winner posted turnover of £47.5m, down from £49m the previous year, while operating profit fell to £5m from £5.2m. Profit before tax declined to £3.3m, compared with £3.7m in the year-ago period, while profit after tax slipped to £3.2m, down from £3.7m. Gross profit stood at £26.5m, compared with £27.6m in 2024, reflecting the lower revenue base. The results come as the Brighton-based operator continues a strategic repositioning away from brewing and towards its wet led pub estate, having last year licensed production of its beer portfolio to Keystone Brewing Group to focus capital and management attention on its pubs, reports the Morning Advertiser.
Apex Hotels has reported a strong set of financial results for the year ending April 30 2025, with group revenue increasing by 21% year on year, writes Boutique Hotelier. The growth follows a period of strategic acquisitions for the group over the past 18 months and continued trading strength across its existing properties. On a consistent portfolio basis, revenues increased by 7% year on year, driven by improved room occupancy levels and yield growth. Acquisitions included The Vineyard Hotel, a five-star country house hotel and spa in West Berkshire (which joins the new Monogram Collective portfolio) and the DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, now rebranded as the Apex Dunblane Hydro.
Pub operator and brewer JW Lees filed its financial results ahead of the New Year, delivering the same profits seen in 2024, reports Pub & Bar. Profit before tax for the year ended 31 March 2025 was £7.1m (2024: £7.1m). Turnover for the year increased to £99.9m (2024: £95.8m), while the group's net assets increased to £102m (2024: £98m). The company invested significantly in its existing pub estate, completing £11m of CAPEX in the year (2024: £8m). In its financial statement, JW Lees listed many challenging factors that it has had to absorb throughout the year, varying from global events to political decisions being made in Westminster.
TGI Fridays is preparing a pre-pack administration plan to significantly slim down the business, according to Sky News. With plans reportedly to close between 15 and 20 of the chain's 49 restaurants, this would mean hundreds of redundancies within the chain's nearly 2,000 staff. A TGI Fridays spokesperson told Sky News: "TGI Fridays UK is still assessing all options for the future of the business. No decisions have been made yet and locations continue to operate as usual."
The £2bn proposed transformation of York Central, one of the UK's largest city centre regeneration projects, will include a new hotel, writes Boutique Hotelier. A planning application for a large proportion of the first phase of the development has now been submitted, with proposals including the first tranche of homes, commercial space and parkland within the development. The phase 1 plans also include a 213-bedroom hotel.
Jamie's Italian is aiming to reach 40 UK sites, after announcing its national comeback last month, reports The Caterer. The Jamie Oliver brand is opening a new location in London's Leicester Square in February, thanks to a partnership with Prezzo Italian owner, Brava Hospitality. Prezzo Italian's chief financial officer Dean Challenger wrote in the company's latest annual report that bringing Jamie's Italian brand back to the UK is "a significant opportunity, with the development agreement allowing up to 40 sites to be opened over an initial 10 year period".
One pub a day lost in 2025 as business rates pressures mount, reports the Morning Advertiser.