Amber Taverns, the fast growing wet-led pub company based in Preston, enjoyed strong trading over the key Christmas and New Year festive period across its pub portfolio across Northern England, the Midlands and North Wales. For the 12 day festive period like for like sales were plus 6%.
93 pubs and growing
Amber specialises in running wet-led pubs, located at the very heart of their communities, which are refurbished to the highest standards with full access to major televised sporting events. The Group has 93 pubs in total.
Of its 93-strong pub portfolio, Amber 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. These new sites will benefit from an extensive refurbishment to create a contemporary, comfortable and welcoming environment which is a key element of Amber’s success and all six pubs are scheduled to be trading by the end of Q1 2014.
In addition, the Group is looking to invest a further £1 million 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.
The Group is targeting 100 sites by the end of 2014 as Amber continues to progress its expansion plans.
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.”