St Austell FY turnover hits £231m despite low visitor numbers

St Austell Brewery has reported a record turnover of £231m in the year to December 2024, with underlying EBITDA rising 8.7% to £22.4m. 

News of the results come as the Cornwall-based brewer and hospitality group is unveiling its first major rebrand in more than 70 years in celebration of its 175th anniversary. 

The group’s managed pub division delivered like-for-like sales growth of 13%, outperforming the wider market. 

Despite this, the St Austell notes that it grappled with low visitor numbers to the south west during 2024, as well as weak consumer confidence and a second consecutive summer of poor weather. 

Kevin Georgel, chief executive of St Austell, said: “The results are all the more meaningful given the challenging trading environment. Despite the sustained economic headwinds, and wider market challenges, the commitment and passion of our people, and the resilience of the company, have enabled us to deliver continued growth in both revenue and profits.

“As we look forward, whilst the outcome of the autumn budget has created significant additional cost pressures – necessitating some difficult, but necessary decisions to review and reduce our operational structure – we remain resolutely focused on delivering our long-term strategy and sustainable growth.”

He added: “Next year we celebrate 175 years of St Austell Brewery. Drawing on our rich heritage, through the evolved brand story, we’re proud to unveil a clearer, more confident vision for the future. This is more than a new visual identity. It represents a thoughtful, holistic evolution of our brand – designed to reinforce our position in the market and support the next phase of our growth. More importantly, it’s a statement of intent and demonstrates our commitment to our people, our guests, and the great experiences we deliver.”