Like-for-like sales for the five weeks ending 6 January 2019 were up 8.3% while, for the 40-week period, total sales rose by 36.1% to more than £29.7m.
“Christmas started slowly but gathered pace towards an excellent outcome with key date performance particularly strong,” said Borg-Neal.
Christmas period
“While our like-for-likes – as with everybody – benefit from sites that we have invested in, I was delighted to note that our comparable [uninvested] estate grew 4.9% over the Christmas period.”
The pub boss also paid tribute to those who would be affected by Brexit and said: “Our mood over Christmas was only dampened by the rather crass television advert that the Government put out on the 27 of December reminding our EU colleagues that they will need to apply for permission to remain in their homes and places of work after Brexit.”
He added that last year Oakman Inns revealed plans to fund applications for 'settled status' and would support those in the process of gaining it, which was still a priority for the pubco.
Funding to family members
He added: “In response to the advert, we announced to our people on New Year’s Day that we will also extend the funding to family members.”
Meanwhile, of the company’s growth, there were two sites within the portfolio undergoing extensions, which would be completed in the spring.
“We are in the planning process for a further five sites and are close to completing on the freehold of a new site in Buckingham,” said Borg-Neal.