Pub group Upham sees sales climb despite ‘challenging' conditions

Pub group and brewery Upham has reported a 6.8% year-on-year increase in overall sales in the first quarter of the year despite "challenging" conditions.

Sales reached £3.3m, with EBITDA for the period reaching £36,000 compared to a loss of £16,000 for the same period in 2017.

However, year to date like-for-like sales across the whole estate are down 0.8% on the previous year due to adverse weather conditions in February and March, as well as development projects hitting trading at a number of sites.

Upham has said that the royal wedding did provide some much-needed relief across the 15-venue pub group, with special events seeing sales increases of up to 46.2%.

Chris Phillips, chief executive of Upham, said: "The sector as a whole has experienced a challenging start to the year, and I am delighted that, despite this, we are able to report that overall sales for the quarter were up from the same period last year.

"Our principal focus for 2018 is to ensure that we continue to maximise operational efficiencies and sustainable profits growth in both the pub estate and the brewery, while delivering the outstanding beer, food, accommodation and service that our customers have come to expect from us.

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