Sun 12th Jan 2014 - Breaking News - Exclusive: Everards results, new pub, brewery move Everards reports turnover and profit boost: Leicestershire-based brewer and pub retailer Everards has reported turnover and profit rose in the year to 30 September 2013. Turnover increased by 1.7% – or £498,000 – to £29,844,000 with profit before tax up on a pre-exceptional basis by 1.7% to £1,571,000. Exceptional items saw pre-tax profit £3,587,000 compared to £2,372,000 the year before. Pre-exceptional operating profit was £3,129,000, up by 3.1%. Managing director Stephen Gould said:“Our goal is to attract and retain the very best licensees in the industry. This approach, matched with tailored support and investment, provides the right foundation to ensure that each of our pubs are the first choice for customers within their respective trading area. Trading over the Christmas and New Year period was good, driven by first-rate food offers from many of our licensees. However, the drinks-led pub still has a vital role to play. Those pubs that deliver a drinks-led experience with real personality, such as those in Project William, are attracting more customers who are looking for a different type of pub experience and occasion. So quality, locally-sourced food, delivered in a casual dining environment and independent drinks-led pubs both have a role to play. For 2014 we remain cautious as some improvement in the economy has not fed through yet to customers’ real growth in personal income. The key is to keep focused on delivering a value-for-money experience for all customers visiting our pubs and drinking our beer.” Everards currently operates 175 tenanted pubs across the Midlands having acquired six pubs in the financial year. Like-for-like, Everards own-brewed draught beers increased sales by 2.4% supported by a strong export performance. Everards annual results come as the company adds its 29th Project William pub. The Pheasant pub in Wellington, Shropshire, which has been bought from R&L Properties No 1 Ltd (in administration). The pub is situated on the edge of Wellington, a busy town close to Telford. The Pheasant Inn has been purchased in conjunction with David Goldingay of Ironbridge Brewery, who successfully already operates Everards’ Old Fighting Cocks in Oakengates. He has been looking for an additional pub for some time and The Pheasant Inn is ideal because it comes with a large detached two-storey outbuilding to the rear into where the Ironbridge Brewery will be relocated -the lease on his current brewing premises expires later this year. Gould said: “We are currently seeking planning for a change of use in respect of the outbuilding and it will be our intention to slightly extend and refurbish the pub in a Project William style and provide a shell building for Ironbridge’s new brewery early in the Spring. In the meantime the pub will remain closed.” Everards has also reported progress in its medium-term plan to relocate its own brewery to a new food and drink quarter on a 90-acre site called Soar Valley Park. Outlineplanning consent was obtained in July 2013 subject to satisfying some local conditions (access agreements with Leicester City Council and the Canal and Rivers Trust) and Secretary of State approval not to “call the application in” for further investigation. Gould said: “The local conditions are progressing well and I am very pleased to report that Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State who has responsibility for national planning policy, has decided not to “call-in” our planning application. This is good news and means that we can now work hard to produce a detailed planning application for the 90-acre site for Blaby District Council to consider. I can’t place an exact timescale on when our application will be submitted but the team will attempt to produce a detailed plan by Summer 2014.” This month, Everards is due to appoint a company to submit a detailed planning application for its current site that proposes retail and leisure uses, complementing the neighbouring Fosse Park.