24 April 2023

The Brighton Pier Group PLC

(the "Company" or the "Group")

Final results

 (for the 18 months to 25 December 2022)

The Brighton Pier Group PLC (the 'Group') owns and trades Brighton Palace Pier, as well as eight premium bars nationwide, eight indoor mini-golf sites and Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park.

The change of year end from June to December means these results cover an 18 month period and reflect the first uninterrupted trading period post pandemic. The change of year end date will enable more meaningful comparison of the Group's financial performance going forwards, as it ensures that the typically busy summer trading months are aggregated within a single reporting period.

Overall, the business rebounded strongly, benefitting from pent-up consumer demand and government assistance, this enabled the Group to repay £9.1 million of debt (44% of borrowings) and enter the current more challenging market in a good financial position.

Trading in 2023 is in line with market expectations and we are well placed to take advantage of any upturn.

 

Financial results		18 months ended 25 December 2022	12 months ended 27 June 2021     restated
		£m (unless otherwise stated)	£m (unless otherwise stated)
Revenue		58.9	13.5
Profit before taxation		7.6	4.2
Profit after taxation		6.4	4.2
Basic earnings per share		17.1p	11.3p
Diluted earnings per share		16.9p	11.3p
Group EBITDA excluding highlighted items		13.9	5.1
Group EBITDA including highlighted items		13.8	4.7
Adjusted basic earnings per share		16.4p	5.6p
Adjusted diluted earnings per share		16.2p	5.6p

 

Commenting on the results, Anne Ackord, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"Like many in our industry, we have had to absorb higher costs relating to wages, energy prices and other inputs. Nevertheless, our businesses remain profitable, well managed and backed by a strong balance sheet and asset base.

We are confident in the ability of our management teams to operate successfully in our markets, but we remain mindful of the continuing pressures from the wider economic environment in which we trade."

 

Enquiries:

The Brighton Pier Group PLC
Luke Johnson, Chairman	Tel: 020 7016 0700
Anne Ackord, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: 01273 609361
John Smith, Chief Financial Officer	Tel: 020 7376 6300
Cenkos Securities plc (Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Stephen Keys (Corporate Finance)	Tel: 0207 397 8926
Callum Davidson (Corporate Finance)	Tel: 0207 397 8923
Michael Johnson (Sales)	Tel: 0207 397 1933
Novella (Financial PR)	Tel: 0203 151 7008
Tim Robertson
Claire de Groot
Safia Colebrook

Chairman's statement

This report covers the 18 months ending 25 December 2022, this being the first financial reporting period following the Group's change from a June to a December year-end (unless otherwise stated, comparisons to 2021 financial performance are for the 12 months ended 27 June 2021). The change of year end date will enable more meaningful comparison of the Group's financial performance going forwards, as it ensures that the typically busy summer trading months are aggregated within a single reporting period. The current period was the first in which the Group was able to operate largely unhindered by the trading restrictions introduced as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to report total Group revenue of £58.9 million (2021: £13.5 million), EBITDA of £13.8 million (2021: £4.7 million) and earnings per share of 17.1 pence (2021: 11.3 pence).

The Group's diverse offering enabled it to capitalise on the surge in demand for leisure experiences following the final removal of the COVID-19 restrictions. In 2021, Brighton Palace Pier was the most visited free to enter attraction in the UK with over 4.2 million visitors, demonstrating the continued appeal and resilience of this iconic structure. The strong demand enjoyed by all four of the Group's divisions, coupled with targeted Government support through business and VAT relief, saw Group revenue of £15.9 million in the 13-week period to the end of September 2021, an all-time high.

The economic backdrop experienced throughout much of 2022 has painted a different picture for the Group, with rising inflation leading to steep cost increases in all areas of the business. The Group has sought to pass these on wherever possible, however many of the indirect input increases were necessarily absorbed by the Group, constraining earnings in the latter 6 months of the period.

The Group successfully completed the full integration of Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park (which was acquired on 17 June 2021) in the first few months of this period. Ahead of the Park's re-opening in Easter 2022, the Group enhanced its offering through the introduction of new attractions and catering options, as well as the installation of a new EPOS system across the Park. For the 18 months ending 25 December 2022, Lightwater Valley delivered revenue of £8.1 million and EBITDA of £1.9 million. The economic downturn has been felt most acutely in Lightwater Valley, with admissions in summer 2022 down on the previous year. This resulted in lower revenues, despite the improved spend-per-head derived from the investment in the new catering operations.

The Group utilised the strong earnings in the period to lower its gearing, repaying £9.1 million of debt in the 18 months to 25 December 2022 and reducing debt by 44%. At the end of March 2023, the Group made a final £0.5 million repayment against its Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (totalling £5.0 million), which were taken out during the pandemic. On 19 April 2023, the Group extended the term on its £10.9 million loan facility by 12 months to 5 December 2024, and over the coming months it is looking to re-structure this debt. The intention will be to replace the £10.9 million term loan and £1.0 million revolving credit facility with a larger revolving credit facility and a reduced term loan. These new facilities will enable the Group to reduce its interest costs.

Looking forward, challenges to trading are expected to continue, with the economic downturn set to persist in 2023 and inflation still at elevated levels. The resulting cost increases will impact margins across all four of the Group's divisions. However, in spite of these difficulties, the businesses remain profitable, tightly managed and are backed by a strong balance sheet and asset base.

Directorate

The death of Senior Independent Non-Executive Director James (Jim) Fallon was a great sadness to all of the Board. Jim was instrumental in leading the IPO of the Company to AIM in 2013 and he continued to make an outstanding contribution throughout his tenure. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

The Group is currently in the process of recruiting for the position of Senior Independent Non-Executive Director; further details will be shared in due course.

Dividend

The Board does not propose to pay any dividend in respect of the 2022 reporting period (2021: nil).

Luke Johnson

Non-Executive Chairman    21 April 2023

Our business model

The Brighton Pier Group PLC (the 'Group') owns and trades Brighton Palace Pier, as well as eight premium bars nationwide, eight indoor mini-golf sites and Lightwater Valley Adventure Park.

The Group operates as four separate divisions under the leadership of Anne Ackord, the Group's Chief Executive Officer.

Brighton Palace Pier offers a wide range of attractions including two arcades (with over 300 machines) and eighteen funfair rides, together with a variety of on-site hospitality and catering facilities. The attractions, product offering and layout of the Pier are focused on creating a family-friendly atmosphere that aims to draw a wide demographic of visitors. The Pier is free to enter, with revenue generated from the pay-as-you-go purchase of products from the fairground rides, arcades, hospitality facilities and retail catering kiosks. According to Visit Britain, it was the most popular free attraction in the UK in 2021, with over 4.2 million visitors.

The Golf division (which trades as Paradise Island Adventure Golf) operates eight indoor mini-golf sites at high footfall retail and leisure centres. The business capitalises on the increasing convergence between retail and leisure, offering an accessible and traditional activity for the whole family. The sites are located in various towns and cities across the UK, each one offering two unique 18-hole mini-golf courses.

The bars trade under a variety of popular concepts including Embargo República, Lola Lo, Le Fez, Lowlander and Coalition. The Group's Bars division targets a customer base of sophisticated students midweek and stylish over-21s and professionals at the weekend. The Bars focuses on delivering added value to its customers through premium product ranges, high quality music and entertainment, as well as a commitment to exceptional service standards. The sites are based in key university cities and towns that provide a vibrant night-time economy and the demographics to support premium bars.

Lightwater Valley Attractions Limited owns and operates the Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, a leading North Yorkshire attraction, which is focused on family days out and is set in 175 acres of landscaped parkland. The Park offers a variety of attractions including rides, amusements, crazy golf, children's outdoor and indoor play, and entertainment shows, alongside numerous food, drink and retail outlets. Popular seasonal events such as at Halloween (Frightwater Valley) are also organised by the Park.

The strategy of the Group is to capitalise on the skills of the four existing divisions, creating a growth company that operates across a diverse portfolio of leisure and entertainment assets in the UK. The Group will achieve this objective by way of organic revenue growth throughout the whole estate, together with the active pursuit of future potential strategic acquisitions of entertainment destinations, thus enhancing the Group's portfolio and realising synergies by leveraging scale. It is the Board's longer-term strategy to position the Company as a consolidator within this sector.

Chief Executive Officer's report

This business review covers the trading results for the 18 months ended 25 December 2022 (2021: 12 months ended 27 June 2021).

Operational Review

This trading period began with three of the Group's four divisions (The Pier, Golf and Lightwater Valley) having recently been fully re-opened, following a period of closures and restrictions resulting from Government-imposed lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The final lockdown restrictions, impacting the Group's late-night bars, were relaxed on 19 July 2021.

All four divisions saw exceptional trading over the summer 2021 period. A combination of warm weather, pent-up consumer demand, accumulated lockdown savings and Government-backed schemes (VAT and business rates relief, 'Eat Out to Help Out') enabled the Group to maximise revenue and earnings as divisions resumed trading.

The Group continued to reposition its portfolio to its more profitable sites with the surrender of the lease of its Reading Coalition site at the end of September 2021, the last of the four marginal sites to be disposed of in the Bars division. This disposal resulted in net gains of approximately £670,000 arising from the derecognition of lease liabilities.

Some minor restrictions were reintroduced in December 2021 due to the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the effect on Group trading was minimal.

Over the winter months, Lightwater Valley was closed to visitors. The Group took advantage of the Park's closure to upgrade a variety of facilities, including the installation of a new EPOS system, a new fish & chip shop, and the construction of a new woodland trail. The Group has also started work on the development of circa twenty pod-type units for rental on the southern edge of the Lightwater Valley Park. The unique forest environment will make these an attractive proposition and will add a further revenue stream to the business. Whilst this project is at an early stage and has required some variation to the original planning consent for 106 lodges, it demonstrates the potential to create significant growth in the medium term.

In contrast to the period following the final removal of pandemic restrictions in July 2021, the first half of 2022 saw the onset of a sharp downturn in economic activity. Global instability and ongoing supply chain disruption driving UK inflation to the highest rate seen in over 40 years. The resulting impact on consumer discretionary spend, coupled with significant operating cost increases across all of the Group's divisions, resulted in a much more challenging trading environment during summer 2022. The period saw prolonged and severe heatwaves across the UK, which impacted footfall at the indoor venues in the Bars and Golf division but benefited the activities on the Pier and at Lightwater Valley.

While the Group worked hard to pass on price increases to customers wherever possible, and was able to maintain gross margins, inflation persisted throughout the remainder of 2022, resulting in the Group having to absorb many of the higher costs. Combined with a general dip in consumer confidence, this led to softer trading and profitability in the second half of 2022.

Full-year results for the 18 months to 25 December 2022

Unless otherwise stated, comparisons to 2021 financial performance are for the 12 months ended 27 June 2021.

Revenue for the period was £58.9 million (2021: £13.5 million). This reflects the longer period of account, the strong trading enjoyed by the business in the first 12 months following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, as well as prior period revenue also being heavily impacted by the restriction of trading during the pandemic.

Revenue split by division:

·              Pier division                           £25.3 million               (2021: £9.6 million)

·              Golf division                         £10.0 million               (2021: £2.4 million)

·              Bars division                         £15.5 million               (2021: £1.3 million)

·              Lightwater Valley                   £8.1 million            (2021*: £0.2 million)

* This represents only 10 days of ownership from 17 June 2021 when the business was acquired to 27 June 2021.

Group gross margin for the period was maintained at 87 % (2021: 87%), despite significant cost pressures across the Group.

Group EBITDA (see Notes 2 and 6) for the period was £13.8 million (2021: £4.7 million).

EBITDA split by division:

·              Pier division                             £4.7 million               (2021: £1.0 million)

·              Golf division                            £5.5 million               (2021: £3.1 million)

·              Bars division                           £3.5 million               (2021: £1.8 million)

·              Lightwater Valley                   £1.9 million            (2021*: £0.1 million)

·              Group overhead                   £(1.8) million            (2021: £(1.4) million)

* This represents only 10 days of ownership from 17 June 2021 when the business was acquired to 27 June 2021.

Group EBITDA excluding highlighted items (see Note 6) for the period was £13.9 million (2021: £5.1 million).

Profit before tax was £7.6 million (2021: £4.2 million), benefitting from pent-up consumer demand and government support schemes. The prior period was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting closures across the business and included £5.0 million of income from business interruption insurance claims.

Profit after tax was £6.4 million (2021: £4.2 million).

Divisional trading commentary

Pier division

·              Revenue - up 161% on the prior period at £25.3 million (2021: £9.6 million)

·              Like-for-like sales - up 11% on the same pre-COVID period in 2019

·              Gross margin - down 1% at 85% (2021: 86%), with government support schemes boosting prior period margin

·              EBITDA - £4.7 million (2021: £1.0 million)

Golf division

·              Revenue - up 320% on last year at £10.0 million (2021: £2.4 million)

·              Gross margin - in line with last year at 99% (2021: 99%)

·              Like-for-like sales - up 12% on the same pre-COVID period in 2019

·              EBITDA - £5.5 million (2021: £3.1 million); in 2021 this included £2.5 million of business interruption insurance income

 

Bars division

·              Revenue - total sales of £15.5 million (2021: £1.3 million); with the Bars estate the most heavily impacted of the Group's four divisions by lockdown closures in the prior period

·              Like-for-like sales - up 2% on the same pre-COVID period in 2019 (for only 75 weeks as the division was only able to re-open from the end of July 2021)

·              Gross margin - up 10% at 82% (2021: 72%), with the absence of the wet-led late-night bars during the prior period resulting in a lower than ordinary margin for the division

·              EBITDA - £3.5 million (2021: £1.8 million); in 2021 this included £2.5 million of business interruption insurance income

Lightwater Valley

·              Revenue - total sales of £8.1 million (2021*: £0.2 million)

·              Gross margin - 87% (2021*: 91%)

·              EBITDA - total EBITDA of £1.9 million (2021*: £0.1 million)

* This represents only 10 days of ownership from 17 June 2021 when the business was acquired to 27 June 2021.

Highlighted items consist of net gains of £0.5 million (2021: £2.7 million of gains) which were recognised during the period - see Note 3 for further details. Highlighted items are treated as such if the matters are material and fall within one of the categories below:

a) acquisition costs and pre-opening costs relating to new and refit sites; and

b) impairment charges and reversals, lease liability adjustments, site closure and other related legal costs.

Finance costs of £1.8 million (2021: £1.0 million), made up of:

·              Interest on borrowings           £0.7 million               (2021: £0.3 million)

·              Interest on leases                    £1.1 million               (2021: £0.7 million)

The interest on leases relates predominantly to property leases in the Bars and Golf divisions and arises from the application of IFRS 16.

Operating profit was £9.4 million (2021: £5.1 million).

Taxation on ordinary activities of £1.3 million (2021: tax credit of £0.1 million), with the Group utilising prior period losses to offset taxable profits in 2021.

In summary, for the 18 month period ended 25 December 2022:

·              Revenue                                                                                       £58.9 million     (2021: £13.5 million)

·              Operating profit                                                                           £9.4 million       (2021: £5.1 million)

·              Group EBITDA excluding highlighted items**                     £13.9 million     (2021: £5.1 million)

·              Group EBITDA                                                                           £13.8 million     (2021: £4.7 million)

·              Profit before tax                                                                          £7.6 million       (2021: £4.2 million)

·              Profit after tax                                                                             £6.4 million       (2021: £4.2 million)

·              Basic earnings per share (excluding highlighted items)^      17.1p                  (2021: 11.3p)

·              Basic earnings per share^                                                          16.4p                  (2021: 5.6p)

·              Diluted earnings per share (excluding highlighted items) ^  16.9p                  (2021: 11.3p)

·              Diluted earnings per share^                                                       16.2p                  (2021: 5.6p)

** Highlighted items are detailed in Note 3 to the financial statements.

^{^}  See Note 4.

Financial review

Unless otherwise stated, comparisons to 2021 financial performance are for the 12 months ended 27 June 2021.

Cash flow

Cash flow generated from operations (after interest and tax payments) available for investment was £10.7 million (2021: £4.9 million). This increase was principally driven by the higher profit before tax recognised during the current period.

Property, plant and equipment and software

The Group invested £1.3 million in capital expenditure during the period (2021: £0.3 million):

·      £0.5 million was spent on the Pier division, which related to upgrading the till systems, refurbishment of various food & drink outlets and new machines for the amusement arcades, as well as other minor capital maintenance;

·      £0.4 million was spent at Lightwater Valley on upgrading EPOS across the Park, creation of a new fish and chip shop to enhance the food & beverage offering, and the building of a new woodland trail as a new feature for 2022;

·      £0.3 million was spent in the Bars division on ERP software upgrades alongside other minor refurbishments across the trading sites; and

·      £0.1 million was spent in the Golf division on course improvements in the Glasgow and Manchester sites.

Shareholders will be aware that each year we undertake an annual substructure survey on the Pier. A further survey, typically performed every five to six years and using divers to inspect the areas below the water line, will be completed in 2023. We can report that no additional maintenance issues were identified other than the usual budgeted maintenance requirements for the coming financial year from either survey. Costs associated with the ongoing maintenance of the Pier are recorded through the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period in which they are incurred.

Current bank debt and cash

At the period end the Group had total bank debt of £11.3 million (2021: £20.4 million) and net debt (total bank debt less cash and cash equivalents) of £7.1 million (2021: £13.3 million), broken down as follows:

·      An outstanding principal term facility of £10.9 million (2021: £11.8 million)

o  £0.9 million debt repayment was made in the period (2021: £0.1 million), offset by the amortisation of loan fees

o  £0.5 million is due within the next twelve months to the end of the term in December 2023

·      CBILS 1 facility of £nil (2021: £1.8 million)

o  Repaid in full during the current period

·      CBILS 2 facility of £0.5 million (2021: £3.2 million)

o  Final repayment of £0.5 million made at the end of March 2023

·      RCF facility drawdowns of £nil (2021: £3.6 million) 

o  Facility was increased to £3.75 million in the prior period to fund the acquisition of Lightwater Valley

o  Fully repaid by the end of October 2021

o  Current facility is £1.0 million (2021: £3.75 million)

·      Cash balances of £4.2 million (2021: £7.1 million)

During the 18 month period, the Group made net repayments of £9.1 million (2021: net drawdowns of £3.5 million), made up of:

·      £3.6 million repayment of the RCF (2021: £3.6 million drawdown);

·      £0.9 million repayment of the principal term facility (2021: £0.1 million);

·      £1.8 million repayment of the CBILS 1 facility (2021: £nil); and

·      £2.7 million repayment of the CBILS 2 facility (2021: £nil).

Key performance indicators ('KPI's)

The Group's KPIs remain focused on the continued growth of the Group to drive revenues, EBITDA (see Note 6) and earnings growth.

The same pre-COVID period in 2019 as referenced below is defined as the 18 month period ending 29 December 2019, being the last comparable period. Total Group revenue for the period was £58.9 million (2021: £13.5 million), up 19% on the same pre-COVID period in 2019 (2019: £49.4 million) primarily due to the acquisition of Lightwater Valley on 17 June 2021.

 

Revenue split by division:

·             Pier division                                                                                £25.3 million              (2021: £9.6 million)

·             Golf division                                                                               £10.0 million              (2021: £2.4 million)

·             Bars division                                                                               £15.5 million              (2021: £1.3 million)

·             Lightwater Valley*                                                                    £8.1 million                (2021: £0.2 million)

* 2021 results for Lightwater Valley reflect the period from acquisition on 17 June 2021 to 27 June 2021.

On a divisional basis and comparing with the pre-COVID like-for-like period in 2019:

·             Brighton Palace Pier like-for-like sales were up 11% on 2019;

·             Golf division like-for-like sales were up 12% on 2019; and

·             Bars division like-for-like sales (for only 75 weeks as the division was only able to re-open from the end of July 2021) were up 2% on 2019.

Group gross margin for the period continued in line at 87% (2021: 87%), reflecting the high-margin nature of all four divisions - and this despite the numerous ongoing supply and cost challenges that have appeared in the economy in the period.

Highlighted items totalling £0.5 million of gains (2021: £2.7 million of gains) were recognised during the period (see Note 3 for further details). These gains arose from:

·             £(1.0) million - impairment of goodwill in the Glasgow and Rushden golf sites;

·             £0.9 million - reversal of impairment charges to property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets;

·             £(0.4) million - recognition of in-substance fixed lease payments;

·             £0.4 million - gain from the derecognition of other lease liabilities during the period;

·             £0.7 million - gain on extinguishment of lease liabilities following the disposal of Smash in Reading; and

·             £(0.1) million - in relation to a potential claim in relation to an assigned lease.

Group profit on ordinary activities before taxation was up 84% at £7.6 million (2021: £4.2 million).

Group profit on ordinary activities after taxation was up 51% at £6.4 million (2021: £4.2 million), with no tax payable in the prior period due to utilisation of losses which occurred during lockdown.

In summary, for the 18 month period ended 25 December 2022:

·             Revenue                                                                                      £58.9 million              (2021: £13.5 million)

·             Operating profit                                                                         £9.4 million                (2021: £5.1 million)

·             Group EBITDA excluding highlighted items*                      £13.9 million              (2021: £5.1 million)

·             Group EBITDA                                                                          £13.8 million              (2021: £4.7 million)

·             Operating profit excluding highlighted items                        £9.0 million                (2021: £2.4 million)

·             Profit before tax excluding highlighted items                       £7.2 million                (2021: £1.4 million)

·             Profit before tax                                                                        £7.6 million                (2021: £4.2 million)

·             Profit after tax                                                                           £6.4 million                (2021: £4.2 million)

·             Net debt at the end of the period                                            £7.1 million                (2021: £13.3 million)

·             Basic earnings per share (excluding highlighted items) ^   17.1p                           (2021: 11.3p)

·             Basic earnings per share^                                                         16.4p                           (2021: 5.6p)

·             Diluted earnings per share (excluding highlighted items) ^                                      16.9p  (2021: 11.3p)

·             Diluted earnings per share^                                                      16.2p                           (2021: 5.6p)

* Highlighted items are detailed in Note 3 to the financial statements.

^ See Note 4.

EBITDA split by division:

·             Pier division                                                                                £4.7 million                (2021: £1.0 million)

·             Golf division                                                                               £5.5 million                (2021: £3.1 million)

·             Bars division                                                                               £3.5 million                (2021: £1.8 million)

·             Lightwater Valley*                                                                    £1.9 million                (2021: £0.1 million)

·             Group overhead                                                                         £(1.8) million              (2021: £(1.4) million)

* 2021 results for Lightwater Valley reflect the period from acquisition on 17 June 2021 to 27 June 2021.

Significant events that have taken place since the year end

On 19 April 2023 the Group extended its current bank facilities that were due to expire in December 2023 for a further period of 12 months to the end of December 2024. The Group is currently in the final stages of negotiations to replace its existing bank facilities with a new longer-term facility made up of a larger revolving credit facility and a reduced term loan.

These new bank facilities will provide the Group with additional flexibility in meeting its day-to-day working capital requirements and reduce its interest costs by repaying further debt back to the revolving credit facility. Had this extension been agreed at 25 December 2022, the Group's total bank debt of £11.3 million would be shown as £0.9 million of current debt and £10.4 million of non-current debt. The presentation in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (see page 43) shows a current liability of £11.3 million.

Strategy of the combined Group, current trading and outlook for the coming period

Short to medium-term strategy and outlook

While trading has now returned to pre-COVID levels, with like-for-like revenues ahead of 2019 equivalents, inflation continues to provide a challenging environment for the Group, with wide-ranging cost increases across all four divisions. The resulting economic uncertainty and decline in consumer confidence is expected to continue in the short to medium-term and the Group looks ahead with caution.

However, despite the continuing cost pressures, all four divisions remain profitable. The Group will continue to seek further operational efficiencies in order to mitigate cost pressures to the greatest extent possible. The repayment of £9.1 million of debt in the current financial period, will enable the Group to remain resilient, further bolstered by a strong balance sheet and asset base.

Current trading

Current total Group sales for the first three months to the end of March 2023 were down 11% on a like-for-like basis versus the equivalent period in 2022, with 76% of this shortfall coming from the Bars division. This was predominantly the result of a challenging prior year comparative for the Bars, which continued to benefit from the post-pandemic surge in demand in the early months of 2022. Notwithstanding, trading in 2023 has seen a general decline in consumer confidence in response to the difficult economic environment currently being faced. These economic pressures, and the resulting impact on both consumer discretionary spend and increased costs, will continue to present significant trading challenges going forwards.

Longer-term: new acquisitions and developments

The longer-term strategy continues to be to capitalise on the skills of the Group to create a growth company operating across a diverse portfolio of leisure and entertainment assets in the UK. The Group will achieve this objective by way of organic revenue growth across the whole estate, together with the active pursuit of future potential strategic acquisitions of leisure and entertainment destinations that could enhance the Group's portfolio, realising synergies by leveraging scale. It is the Board's longer-term strategy to position the Group as a consolidator within this sector.

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the 18 month period ended 25 December 2022

			18 months ended 25 December 2022	12 months ended 27 June 2021 restated
		Notes	£'000	£'000
Revenue			58,905	13,541
Cost of sales			(7,748)	(1,781)
Gross profit			51,157	11,760
Operating expenses - excluding highlighted items			(42,373)	(15,086)
Highlighted items		3	451	2,746
Total operating expenses			(41,922)	(12,340)
Other income			197	5,693
Operating profit - excluding highlighted items			8,981	2,367
Highlighted items		3	451	2,746
Operating profit			9,432	5,113
Finance income			24	24
Finance cost			(1,817)	(987)
Profit before tax and excluding highlighted items			7,188	1,404
Highlighted items		3	451	2,746
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation			7,639	4,150
Taxation on ordinary activities			(1,266)	81
Profit and total comprehensive income for the period			6,373	4,231
Earnings per share - basic* (pence)		4	17.1	11.3
Earnings per share - diluted (pence)		4	16.9	11.3

 

* 2022 basic weighted average number of shares in issue is 37.29 million (2021: 37.29 million).

 

No other comprehensive income was earned during the period (2021: nil).

Consolidated balance sheet

As at 25 December 2022

		As at 25 December 2022		As at 27 June 2021 restated		As at 28 June 2020 restated
		£'000		£'000		£'000
Non-current assets
Intangible assets		9,545		10,457		9,467
Property, plant and equipment		28,139		29,008		25,763
Right-of-use assets		25,223		23,916		18,030
Net investment in finance leases		-		635		689
Other receivables due in more than one year		-		209		367
		62,907		64,225		54,316
Current assets
Inventories		815		731		562
Trade and other receivables		1,835		4,002		1,926
Income tax receivable		-		5		-
Cash and cash equivalents		4,208		7,080		2,649
		6,858		11,818		5,137
TOTAL ASSETS		69,765		76,043		59,453
EQUITY
Issued share capital		9,322		9,322		9,322
Share premium		15,993		15,993		15,993
Merger reserve		(1,111)		(1,111)		(1,111)
Other reserve		452		452		452
Retained earnings/(deficit)		897		(5,476)		(9,707)
Equity attributable to equity shareholders of the Parent		25,553		19,180		14,949
TOTAL EQUITY		25,553		19,180		14,949
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		3,833		8,321		3,945
Other financial liabilities*		11,327		5,913		-
Lease liabilities		1,808		2,059		2,179
Income tax payable		987		-		35
Provisions		119		-		-
		18,074		16,293		6,159
Non-current liabilities
Other financial liabilities*		-		14,456		16,797
Lease liabilities		25,365		25,534		21,548
Deferred tax liability		512		265		-
Other payables due in more than one year		261		315		-
		26,138		40,570		38,345
TOTAL LIABILITIES		44,212		56,863		44,504
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES		69,765		76,043		59,453

*On 19 April 2023, the Group's term loan was extended for a period of 12 months and is now due for final repayment on 5 December 2024. Had this extension been agreed at the reporting date, the Group's current other financial liabilities of £11,327,000 would be replaced by a £942,000 current liability and a £10,385,000 non-current liability.  

These consolidated financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by: J.A.Smith, Director

21 April 2023                                                                                                          Registered Company number: 08687172

Consolidated statement of cash flows

For the 18 month period ended 25 December 2022

		18 months to		12 months to
		25 December 2022		27 June 2021 restated
	Notes	£'000		£'000
Operating activities
Profit before tax		7,639		4,150
Net finance costs		1,793		963
Amortisation of intangible assets		126		80
Impairment of goodwill	3, 5	985		-
Reversal of impairment of property, plant and equipment	3, 5	(424)		-
Reversal of impairment of right of use assets	3, 5	(489)		-
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment		2,372		1,218
Depreciation of right-of-use assets		2,453		1,436
Impairment of net investment in finance lease		-		47
Gain on derecognition of lease liabilities due to disposal		(688)		(1,838)
Gain on derecognition of lease liabilities due to waivers & concessions	3, 5	(402)		(1,334)
Charge on recognition of in-substance fixed rent		268		-
Increase/(decrease) in provisions and deferred tax		119		(21)
Increase in inventories		(84)		(59)
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables		2,381		(1,738)
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables		(3,539)		2,985
Interest paid on borrowings		(712)		(320)
Interest paid on lease liabilities		(1,105)		(667)
Interest received		24		6
Income tax paid		(32)		(52)
Net cash flow generated from operating activities		10,685		4,856
Investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets		(1,296)		(258)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired		-		(2,251)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment		18		11
Payment of deferred and contingent consideration to former Lightwater Valley Attractions Limited Shareholders		(1,000)		-
Net cash flows used in investing activities		(2,278)		(2,498)
Financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings		-		3,634
Repayment of borrowings		(9,063)		(1,291)
Principal paid on lease liabilities		(2,216)		(270)
Net cash flows (used in)/generated from financing activities		(11,279)		2,073
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents		(2,872)		4,431
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		7,080		2,649
Cash and cash equivalents end of period		4,208		7,080