Fri, 31 Jul 2026 | BUSINESS NEWS
Punch Pubs Group has reported an increase in revenue and EBITDA, following a period in which it has acquired 50 venues. In a trading update for the 40 weeks ending May 17 2026, the group reported total revenues of £274.7 million, up from £251.7 million in the same period of last year, while EBITDA increased from £69.3 million to £72.4 million.
The Burton-on-Trent-based group says that it saw growth across both its Leased and Tenanted and Pub Partnerships divisions. Since the end of that period, the firm says it has seen a period of “particularly positive trading” as a result of the World Cup, in which England advanced to the semi-finals and competed in the third-placed playoff.
During the 40-week period, Punch spent £36.2 million acquiring 50 pubs. This comprised a portfolio of 30 from McMullen’s, along with smaller packages of four and eight pubs, respectively, and eight acquisitions of individual venues.
According to Punch, this reflects its "disciplined, repeatable approach to identifying, investing in and revitalising community pubs".
Since the quarter end, the group has either completed on, exchanged or agreed to acquire an additional 24 pubs, at an aggregate cost of £19.2 million. This includes an additional five sites bought from RedCat Hospitality.
In its quarter four trading to date, the eight weeks ending July 12 2026, Punch says it has continued to perform strongly, with underlying EBITDA ahead of the same period last year. The World Cup was described as having delivered a "strong uplift in sales" across its estate.
Across the group’s Pub Partnership pubs, like-for-life sales increase by 59 per cent over the seven match days involving the England national team through to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The company stated: “This strong profit growth stems from: growth in our like-for-like estate driven by inflationary price increases and trade enhancing capex investment; growing profits from pubs transferred from leased and tenanted to pub partnerships; bolt-on acquisitions of single sites and small pub portfolios; and optimisation of our cost base from the completed £5.1m cost saving plan identified in partnership with Deloitte.”
Discussing the government’s recently-announced cut to business rates for English pubs, Punch Pub Group CEO Andy Spencer said that, while further action is still needed, the decision was a positive, necessary move and one that demonstrated that the government is engaging with the industry.
Find out more about the trading boost that the World Cup could have delivered for sectors including retail and hospitality
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