In its year under review, the group posted record turnover of £119.9m, up from £110.3m in 2024, an increase of 9%.
Operating profit was £19.7m, up 10% on the previous year (2024: £17.8m), while profit before tax stood at £19.1m, up 7% on the previous year (2024: £17.9m).
Total like for like sales increased 3.5% in the year under review with a particularly strong H1, which benefitted from the Euros Football Championship in June and July 2024.
Like-for-like sales in the last 12 weeks were also up 5%, the group added.
However, it said global geopolitical instability and rising costs, including employer’s National Insurance Contributions and the National Living Wage, had exerted “significant pressure”.
Despite this, Amber, which operates 184 community pubs across the UK, asserted its wet-led and value-focused model continued to prove resilient, with every site profitable during the period measured.
Management action
In addition, the report said Amber had offset inflationary cost pressures through “pre-emptive management action”.
The year under review added the Blackpool-based group’s estate, which focuses on the hybrid operator-managed business model, had benefitted from historic investments and ongoing refurbishments.
During the year to 2 February 2025, Amber opened nine new pubs in Bellshill, Cleethorpes, Derby, Bridgend, Prestwick, Jarrow, Whitley Bay, Cheltenham and Bedford. These sites were a mixture of existing licensed premises and former retail sites.
The group has also opened 10 new sites so far in FY26, in Airdrie, Motherwell, Bathgate, Leith, Huddersfield, Barry, Gosport, Guiseley, Johnstone and Norton.
Moreover, sites in Taunton, Whitchurch, Bearwood, Nottingham and Helensburgh are either in, or about to, undergo refurbishment.
Looking ahead, Amber said it was focused on growing its pub portfolio through further acquisition and development opportunities, particularly in the South of England, with ambitious plans to open a minimum of 17 new pubs in the next 12 months.
This includes its most Southerly site to date, the Erasmus Wolfe, which opened last month in Gosport, Hampshire.
Landmark year
The group was acquired by Bella Italia and Las Iguanas owner, Epiris, in October last year for an undisclosed sum.
A full valuation was carried out in May 2024 as part of the re-financing process and, as of 2 February 2025, the fair value of Amber’s estate was estimated at £246.1m compared with £229m in 2024.
James Baer was appointed chairman of the group in August 2025 with ex-Admiral managing director for Proper Pubs, Mark Brooke, succeeding him as CEO.
Commenting on the results, Baer said: “This has been a landmark year for Amber Taverns in which we have achieved both significant strategic and operational progress and delivered another strong trading performance.
“Despite the best efforts of the Government to dampen consumer confidence and impose unwelcome additional cost on the sector, we believe a well invested, modern community pub with an engaged and motivated operator will continue to prove a relevant and robust business model.”
He continued: “We are very encouraged with the response to the opening of our most Southerly pub to date in Gosport recently and look forward to increasing our Southern footprint as we progress our ambition to build a nationwide presence for Amber.
“With a well proven formula of a value offer in a modern community pub environment, Amber remains well on track to continue to deliver solid trading results and further significant growth.”
