Pub chain Fuller’s has announced it is “garden-ready” for the summer season and the upcoming Fifa World Cup, as more consumers book ahead and opt for staycations. The company, which operates 337 pubs and hotels across the south of England, reported revenues of £397.8 million for the year to March 28, an increase of 5.7% compared to the previous year. This growth was driven by higher food and drink sales, as well as strong room bookings at its hotels.
Continued Sales Growth
Sales growth has continued into the new financial year, with like-for-like sales rising 4.4% in the first 10 weeks compared to the same period last year. Fuller’s said it is well-prepared for the summer and to host football fans watching the 2026 Fifa World Cup, which will see England and Scotland compete in the group stages in the coming weeks. The company also highlighted robust hotel bookings linked to increased demand for staycations, particularly in the Cotswolds.
Criticism of Tax Policies
Despite the positive sales figures, Fuller’s executive chairman Simon Emeny criticized government tax policies, warning they are contributing to pub closures and rising youth unemployment. He said the industry has faced “unprecedented government interference, additional taxes and regulations,” specifically pointing to last year’s increase in employer national insurance contributions, as well as costs such as alcohol duty and the sugar tax. “These decisions come with consequences,” Emeny stated, noting an uptick in youth unemployment and pub closures across the UK.
Preparations for Summer
Emeny added: “As we move into our summer season, preparations have gone well. Our garden investment programme has seen fresh space created for peak trading, advance bookings for the World Cup have been strong, and we are seeing increased demand for staycations benefiting our excellent rooms business.” He noted that the group has managed to grow sales despite an “increasingly challenging macroeconomic and political backdrop.”
