Dorset brewer Hall & Woodhouse has reaped the benefits of concentrating on its pubs business over the past year with pre-tax profits up 10% to £8.9m.

The privately-held company is currently transforming its 270 strong pub estate to freehold after exiting the soft drink production business two years ago in order to concentrate on brewing and its pubs.

Managing director David Woodhouse said: “Over the past five years, we have nearly trebled ongoing profits, and our quality of earnings continues to improve as we rationalise our pub estate towards freeholds and the market opportunity presented by the growth in eating out.”

Hall & Woodhouse is also planning a conversion of its Blandford, Dorset, headquarters which will see the creation of 200 residential properties on site.

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By Christopher Walton

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