Buoyant trade in London boosts ETM

ETM Group, the London-based gastropub operator led by Tom and Ed Martin, has completed its disposals as it focuses on larger sites, including its microbrewery in Ealing and a second Botanist.

The group, which reported a rise in pre-tax profit to £886,000 for the 12 months to February 2014, up from £608,000 the previous year, said trade has been “really pleasing” in the first nine months of its financial year.

Ed Martin told the PMA's sister title M&C Report: “Everything has been on forecast and on budget for the year. We’re finding trade is quite buoyant in London.”

ETM exited two sites last year — the Angel & Crown in St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden and the Prince Arthur in Hackney. Martin said the remainder of the estate is a “good size”, so further disposals are not planned.

The Ealing Park Tavern in west London will open next month. It will include a microbrewery, where production begins next week to supply beer to its own estate as well as a small number of other pubs.