Trading update for our full year ending 25th January 2025

Continued strong group performance, with sector leading Full Year LFL’s at 7.8% growth, including 23% LFL across the two week Christmas period.

 

  • Full year LFL +7.8% with H2 growth of 9.5% driven by strong December and Festive bookings of +18%.
  • Exceptional Performance on Food at +12%, with strong performance on Accommodation at +4% and Drink at +5%.
  • London contributing strongly to H2 Performance at +27%.
  • Record Highest Week of Managed Sales in Christmas Week and Highest Single Day on Christmas Day with LFL growth of 27%.
  • +23% LFL across the two Christmas Peak weeks vs the same weeks last year.
  • Food continues to be at the core of our strategy with a number of new dishes such as our ultimate breakfast bap and buttermilk waffles driving a 30% increase in LFL Food sales for mornings.
  • With the continued focus on providing multi-functional sites, we have seen a 38% growth in the number of events and meetings.
  • Our loyalty club continues to add significant value to our business with YoY growth in loyalty customers of 21%.
  • The Brewing and Drinks business has seen growth in sales and profitability across both On and Off Trade channels, led by UK Free Trade with growth of over 8% vs last year.
  • 2nd Low and No brand launched, Tall Tales Pale Ale Zero, reflecting the success of Goram IPA Zero and the growth of the low and no market.

 

We are pleased to report a strong performance for the business in the year ended 25th January.  Total Managed LFL grew by 7.8% with a standout performance in food at 12% growth, with both accommodation and drink growing by 4% and 5% respectively.

Our strong performance was supported by significant trade taken in the mornings, with customers enjoying breakfast and brunch options. This, combined with our all-day offering on food, reaffirms our belief that providing alternatives to traditional pub mealtimes presents a substantial growth opportunity for the Group. Our continued investment into events and occasions has also paid off with growing demand for Weddings, Celebrations, Shoots and Business Meetings.

Our 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 which have combined with new menus and drinks ranging including enhanced selections on wine.

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 in 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 into Butcombe Boutique Inns with four sites under investment, The Methuen Arms, Corsham, The Lion at Winchcombe, The Castle Inn, West Lulworth and The White Horse, Chilgrove which will all move into Butcombe Boutique Inns when they reopen over the next few months.

 

Jonathan Lawson, CEO of Butcombe Group, said:  

‘’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. 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.’’