Pub company Peach enjoyed a strong trading period for December 2011, which saw like-for-like sales rise 9%, with an overall sales rise of 23% thanks to new pub openings.
The company also enjoyed a record day on Friday 23 December, with sales topping £120,000, and pointed to further expansion in 2012, with plans to add a further three to four pubs and bring turnover to the £22m mark.
"Really it was a culmination of everyone's hard work throughout the year, with some clever tweaks to our offer and particularly for Christmas that saw the pubs buzzing with guests new and old having a good time, and a push right through to the end of the year," Peach co-founder Hamish Stoddart (pictured) said.
"We added some great new pubs during the year, with two strong performers in Hertfordshire - the White Horse in Harpenden and Brookmans in Brookmans Park - getting off to a flying start in the Peach stable and increasing our foothold in this county," he added. "We likewise strengthened our presence in Surrey with an investment in rooms at the Richard Onslow, which filled the gap for good-quality local accommodation in Cranleigh and has regularly hit 100% occupancy."
Stoddart indicated that the company now planned to build up the number of sites in and around London, as well as potentially bringing a new Almanack closer to the capital, making a third site for the successful gastropub format.
"We're on the look-out for the right opportunities in pubs and bars. We are flexible on tenure, with freehold or tied or untied leaseholds, and are open to ideas. Come and talk to us about expansion and working with us - there's everything to play for and we're looking forward to another good year," Stoddart said.
Peach eyes 15th site as profit and turnover increase for 2010/11 >>
Peach takes estate to 15 with acquisition of Hertfordshire pub >>
Peach buys ex-Novelli pub in Harpenden >>
By Neil Gerrard
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