Belhaven shines despite wet weather

The wet summer failed to dampen spirits at Scottish pub company and brewer Belhaven, the company showed today as it posted record half-year results.

The group's rapid expansion, from 42 pubs to 225, also played a key part in boosting profits.

In the six months to 26 September, pre-tax profits came in at £9.7m, up by 27% on the same point last year, with turnover ahead by 20.4% at £56.8m, up from £47.2m.

The majority of the growth came from the pubs division, which reported operating profits up by 32.3%, against a 10% increase in the drinks operation.

Chief executive Stuart Ross called the results "outstanding".

The figures, he added, had been achieved "despite the capricious weather conditions during the summer months, in stark contrast to last year's record temperatures and prolonged heatwave."

The trading pattern since the end of the half-year had been very much in line with that experienced in the first six months, he said.

by Nic Paton

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