Today’s news in brief – 08/04/25
Camerons Brewery has reported a 17.95% rise in EBITDA in FY24 amid debt reduction in the year ended 5 January 2025. The group managed to cut its debt by £10.8m to £15.5m as of 23 December 2023, and as a result, now carries much less relative to what it earns. This follows the completion of a debt refinancing with new funder Sandton Investments on 23 October 2024. During 2024, the operator of pub brand Head of Steam and Urban Country Pubs also saw its pubs “generally perform well”, and trade in line with the prior year.
Deliveroo has integrated Wagamama’s loyalty programme, marking the first restaurant loyalty programme to be available on the app. Soul Club has been described as a unique platform where members can redeem free menu items and exclusive content such as a constantly evolving stream of recipe and foodie videos. From now on, customers in the UK can link their Soul Club account with their Deliveroo account to earn points when they order Wagamama through the app.
Airbnb has partnered with CAMRA to refurbish disused rooms above three pubs in Dorset, Hampshire and Derbyshire to transform them into British holiday retreats. Almost a quarter of Airbnb guests want to explore more of the UK, and according to its study, the new guest rooms will allow these pubs to now welcome staycation goers. With a 6.7% increase in pub closures, particularly in the South West and East Midlands where 37 pubs shut down last year, the three pubs now join the cohort of over 350 British pubs already listed on Airbnb.
The Three Chimneys has appointed Kieran Walker as its new GM on the Isle of Skye. Walker will be responsible for leading both The Three Chimneys and The Three Chimneys at Talisker, the company’s new venue located at Skye’s oldest distillery. He first joined the restaurant with rooms’ management team in 2021, and progressed to restaurant manager in 2023. Prior to his tenure at The Three Chimneys, Walker held senior roles at the five-star Farnham Castle in Surrey, and the four-star Old Thorns Resort in Hampshire.