Hungry visitors to Geronimo pubs across London snapped up £60,000 worth of lobsters in September, according to parent company Young’s.
The food sales helped the group, with 240 pubs across London and the south of England, record an impressive 19% boost in first-half profits, to £15.9 million from £13.4 million, with sales up 8% to £108 million.
Chief executive Steve Goodyear said he was particularly pleased since the comparable period last year covered the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee.
He added: “There was a real buzz in London after the Olympics last year and I think it’s been maintained. Also, we’ve got 15 riverside pubs where customers took advantage of the warm summer.” Sparkling wine sales rose 27.7% and cider 24% thanks to the weather, while food sales rose 7.8% and account for 29.4% of total revenues against 28.7% last year.
Goodyear said the 35 Geronimo pubs sold the vast quantity of lobsters, while its Wheatsheaf pub in Borough Market sold 3,000 ft of sausage rolls — “that’s enough to stretch to the top of the Shard and back down again.”
He revealed that the reduction in beer duty had been passed directly on to customers.“We’re really pleased the Chancellor has reduced the duty. There is a temptation to not reduce prices and take the extra penny, but we think that would be wrong.He’s welcome to a Young’s any time for a pint.”
