JW Lees reveals festive trading figures

Pub and bar operators continue to post encouraging sales figures from the festive season, with north west operator JW Lees the latest to do so.

The pub owner and brewer, led by William Lees-Jones, has revealed its six-week Christmas trading period to be up 10.3%, with like-for-like sales up 4.1%, non like for like up 9.2% and new sites up 232%. 

When breaking down the revenue, food was up 12.7% with drink sales up 10.3% and accommodation sales down -2.7%. The latter, the brewer says, owing predominantly to a slowdown in UK stay-cations and the closure of the port of Holyhead. JW Lees has a number of hotels on the north Wales coast which were affected by the lack of traffic in and out of Holyhead over the festive season.

Full-year results

Earlier in January 2025, JW Lees posted its full-year results. Pre-tax profits increased by over 100% during its recent financial year, as the business recovered from a tough 2023.

Filing its accounts for the year to 31 March 2024, revenues were up 9% at £95.8m (+£8.3m), with pre-tax profit up 104% to £7.1m. 

In the previous year to March 2023, pre-tax profit was down by 56% from £8.1m to £3.5m, with JW Lees citing a number of reasons for this, including the cost of energy, reduced government support and increased levels of investment in the business.

JW Lees operates freehold pubs, hotels and inns, under both direct company management and in partnership with its JW Lees Pub Partners. 

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