Redcomb Pubs pulls 100,000 pints in one of its best Decembers to date

Multi-site operator Redcomb Pubs announced one of its strongest festive trading seasons to date, with like-for-like sales across its portfolio increasing by 12.6% year-on-year during December.

The group, founded by Dan Shotton and Mark Draper, which comprises 15 sites including casual dining venue, Lockhouse, in Paddington, weathered snowy conditions to kick-off December trading with some of its highest figures to date.

Collective sales across all Redcomb sites in the first fortnight of December rose by 17% year-on-year.

Commenting on the group's performance, Redcomb managing director Dan Shotton said: “Christmas remains one of the key trading seasons across our industry and all of our sites, and we are delighted to say that team Redcomb again did not disappoint. All of our staff pulled together tremendously to create one of our best festive trading seasons to date, with sterling performances from everyone.

“We pulled in excess of 100,000 pints and served well over 29,000 festive plates over the Christmas period, which demonstrates that customers still value the quality, ambience and food that a proper British pub has to offer when it comes to their celebrations.

“Redcomb also benefited from consumers’ increased desire to ‘trade up’ over the festive season, with strong premium spirit sales across all sites and premium cocktails up by nearly 90% year-on-year in December.”

Standout performers across the group include Worplesdon Place, in Surrey, and The Bickley, in Chislehurst, south-east London – both of which have benefitted from substantial investment and refurbishment over the past two years in order to refocus on their core food offering.

Worplesdon Place registered a like-for-like sales increase across December of more than 23%, while the Bickley posted an increase of more than 35% during the first two weeks of the month.

December was also a landmark month for Redcomb as they pledged to stop offering plastic straws and stirrers to customers in an effort to help reduce marine waste.