Leicestershire brewer and pub operator Everards has reported a 7.4% rise in pre-tax profit to £1.7m in the year to 30 September, as it looks to revive more closed pubs, according to the Leicester Mercury.
The 177-strong group saw turnover in the year, in which it acquired four new pubs, climb by 5.5% to £31.5m.
Managing director Stephen Gould told the newspaper that trade had been encouraging in the past three months as the economy continued to pick up.
“The pub estate has performed strongly,” he said. “Food is driving that performance, aided by locally sourced real ale.”
The company plans to invest £1.5 million revamping its estate next year.
Gould told the newspaper he would be interested in taking on more pubs which have shut down.
“A number of the pubs we have acquired in recent years had previously been closed because we believe they have potential,” he said. “We will also be investing in our existing estate during the rest of the financial year.”
The company recently turned The Blues pub, in Oadby, into a Co-op store after deciding the venue was no longer viable.
In October, the company announced an agreement with retailer Next to jointly promote the land currently occupied by its brewery for retail development.
The development will be anchored by a 90,000 square foot Next Home and Garden store, creating a flagship close to the group’s headquarters in Enderby. Other retailers for the scheme are to be confirmed at a later date.
