Profits up at pub firm Marston's amid site revamps

A conversion programme has seen the group transform pubs into venues, trading across three new styles

Refurbishments have helped pub firm Marston's post an increase in profits for the past year, as it confirmed it has a good level of Christmas bookings.

The Wolverhampton-based company reported a six-fold jump in its pre-tax profits to £88.3m, for the year to 27 September.

It has hailed strong gains from recent investments, including a programme of pub revamps, with 31 sites converted into three distinct styles across the year.

The refurbishments have helped drive average revenues per site up by about 23%, with festive bookings currently 11% higher year-on-year, the group said.

The conversion programme saw it transform pubs into one of the three styles: Woodie's family-focused sites, Grandstand sports pubs and Two-Door venues, which target both drinkers and diners.

Marston's chief executive Justin Platt said the group planned to accelerate the conversion initiative to at least 50 sites this year, with a focus on Two-Door and Grandstand locations.

"Guest satisfaction has reached record levels - a fantastic endorsement of the passion and dedication of our people and the quality and consistency they deliver every day," said Mr Platt.

"Our new pub formats are performing exceptionally well, clearly demonstrating the growth opportunity ahead and giving us real conviction to scale further."

The company, which was founded in 1834, runs more than 1,300 pubs across the UK, employing about 9,000 people.

In 2024, the firm sold 18 pubs to Admiral Taverns, after reviewing parts of its estate.