The group’s managed sites reported a 9.7% rise in like-for-like sales compared to 2023, with bars and venues seeing a 4.1% increase.
Craft Union, Stonegate’s operator-led model, delivered a record-breaking Christmas week, with sales reaching more than £8m for the first time.
Furthermore, some 234 managed sites reported record-breaking sales weeks over the festive period and 217 reported record-breaking sales days.
Stonegate’s managed arm also welcomed over 1m pre-booked guests, which was the highest in the group’s history.
Its leased and tenanted estate, Pub Partners, continued to deliver year-on-year profit growth, according to the business.
Solid trading momentum
Chief executive David McDowall said: “Performance across the group was encouraging over the festive period, with particularly strong sales in our managed pub estate.
“It was also pleasing to see the momentum in our Bar and Venues estate over the period.
“Craft Union pubs trade particularly well when guests go out more locally and we saw this play out during the season.
“Our Pub Partners business continued its very solid trading momentum, once again growing profit over the period.
“None of this is possible without the hard work and commitment across the group and above all, I would like to thank the whole Stonegate team for their efforts.
“While we are encouraged by our performance over the festive period, we are very aware Christmas only comes once a year and the hospitality sector continues to face headwinds on multiple fronts and the economic climate remains challenging.
Positive trajectory
“We are, however, well positioned to maintain our positive trajectory moving into 2025.
“Our fantastic team have achieved a lot but we have plenty of progress left to deliver.”
Just before the festive period, the group had invested more than £100m into its estate during 2024.
As part of its overall activity, Stonegate had pumped more than £17m into its Pub Partners estate.
Significant refurbishments in its managed arm were showcased by the £840,000 development of a new Slug & Lettuce in Glasgow, which opened in October.
In November, the company invested £150,000 into two new pub formats within its managed estate.
The launched of its Heritage Pubs and Pubsmiths brands ‘marks the evolution of Stonegate’s food-focused offer', the group stated.
