Amber Taverns, the fast growing operator of community wet-led pubs, saw like-for-like sales grow 6% over the 12-day festive period and said it planned to reach 100 sites by the end of 2014.
It currently operates 93 pubs. Amber said it has two sites currently under refurbishment in Chesterfield and Hull, as well as four sites which are due to be refurbished shortly in Sedgley, York, Carlisle and Ferryhill near Durham. All are due to be trading by the end of Q1 2014.
In addition, the group is looking to invest a further £1m in capex on beer gardens at six pubs within its existing estate, following the success of similar developments at its pubs in Leigh and Runcorn last year.
Clive Preston, chairman of Amber Taverns, said: “This is a pleasing performance in what was a mixed period on the weather front which, once again, illustrates the ongoing appeal of well run, wet-led community pubs, generating sustainable growth in the geographies in which we operate. Amber continues to go from strength to strength and we remain within reach of our target of achieving a 100-strong pub portfolio by the end of this year.”
