Hall & Woodhouse, the independent family brewer and pub company, has announced that underlying profit before tax at the business increased by16% to £9.3million in the year to 31st January 2026.
With total profit after tax up to £8.9million, the company said that improved trading, to a reduced taxation charge and accounting for an insurance payment receipt for a fire at the Osborne View, Fareham all contributed to the figures.
The brewery, which you can read more about here through our interview with head brewer Toby Heasman, experienced a growth in volumes while its craft keg ale range, Outland from the Badger Brewery, performed “very well in our houses with the rapid growth in volumes, particularly for Outland Stout”.
This growth in keg volumes, the brewery said, more than outweighed the decline in its Badger cask ale family.
They added that the Premium Bottled Ale (PBA) market in the off trade continues to be under pressure from falling volumes and tight margins with the Badger range performed solidly in this context.
However, despite the solid results Anthony Woodhouse, chairman of Hall & Woodhouse, added that trading conditions are tough for the business.
He said “As a longstanding family business, we are proud to be a force for good. However, punitive employment taxes, employment rights legislation, unlevel playing fields on VAT versus supermarkets and on business rates versus online businesses and Inheritance Tax changes all act as disincentives and make it harder to behave in this positive way.
“The recently announced reduction in business rates is a small, but welcome, step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to unleash the full growth potential of the hospitality industry.
“I would like to praise and thank our MD, Matt Kearsey, and the team for producing another remarkable performance; they have devised and are executing a compelling strategy.
“This has put us in an enviably strong position as we approach our 250th birthday in 2027. In relation to the latter, it was an honour to start our 250th year with the visit of Their Majesties The King and The Queen in July 2026 to unveil our ‘Cheers to our first 250 years’ logo.
“Finally, I would like thank Ann Elliot as she steps down shortly from the Board after six years for her contribution to the company. She has been an excellent ‘voice of the guest’ in meetings, given us the benefit of her marketing expertise, and challenged and supported us on our journey to continue to build a truly inclusive culture.”
