Butcombe Group happy with six-month sales
Butcombe Group has posted its half-year results for 2025.
Loyalty schemes, key day parts and events have played a significant part in the recent sales of Butcombe Group, as the pub operator and brewer reveals its half-year results.
The Jonathan Lawson-led business delivered 9.8% like-for-like growth for the first half of the year across its managed pubs division, including drink at 13%, food at 8% and accommodation 4.1%.
Butcombe Pubs & Inns sales increased 11.9% like-for-like and Channels Islands Liberation Pubs & Bars was at 3.9%.
During the period, the group maintained its focus on key day parts and events, with morning sales up 36.6% and weddings delivering 76% growth versus last year. Managed pubs achieved record trading days for both Mother's Day (31% growth) and Father's Day (11% growth).
The continued evolution and success of the Butcombe loyalty programme has also been key, with an increase of 17.6% in active loyalty customers over the last year. This success, the group says, has been underpinned by strategic investment in data analytics, particularly customer segmentation, enabling targeted marketing, offers and promotions to drive frequency and spend.
"It is great to see such a strong performance for the first half of 2025 despite a challenging trading environment and weak consumer confidence," says Lawson (pictured). "It’s a testimony to the hard work of the entire team and reflective of our ongoing investment in people, quality, customer experience and data. We approach the second half of the year with optimism and are confident that we can continue to outperform the market as we have done for a number of years."
Food and drink
While the growth has been achieved across all categories, there has been a standout performances in drink sales, boosted by favourable weather and ongoing investments across the estate, including the enhancement of external areas.
Food continues to perform well across the estate, building upon double digit growth last year, while the accommodation business delivered year-on-year occupancy growth of 80 bps and an occupancy rate of 77.8% year to date. Demand across the portfolio of 11 Butcombe Boutique Inns is resulting in increased direct bookings, occupancy and revenue.
Looking ahead, Butcombe says it remains optimistic for the second half of the year supported by sustained investments, innovation and loyalty. It also notes the continued weak consumer confidence and would be keen to see government support and stability for the sector.
In June, Butcombe Group's Jayson Perfect co-hosted the National Pub & Bar Awards, with the annual event welcoming a previous winner to the stage to help present trophies to 2025's champions.
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