Badger Beer maker Hall & Woodhouse doubles profit ahead of tie-up with James May

Hall & Woodhouse, a brewer based in Dorset and owner of over 130 pubs across England, has reported a significant increase in profit following a rise in brewing volumes. The company recorded a profit of £8.9 million for the year ending January, up from £4.1 million the previous year. Total turnover grew by 6.7%, reaching £131.1 million, driven by a 4% increase in volumes at its Badger Beer brewery, attributed to the surge in demand for its Outland stout.

As the brewer prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary next year, the family owners have expressed concerns over the challenges they face due to punitive taxes and government-imposed regulations. The company's chairman, Charles Brims, criticized the "punitive employment taxes," proposed changes to employment rights legislation, unlevel playing fields on VAT compared to supermarkets, business rates compared to online businesses, and inheritance tax changes as disincentives that hinder the company's ability to operate positively.

The family-owned firm is proud of its position as a force for good but acknowledges the difficulties posed by these tax hikes and regulatory burdens. These concerns echo the sentiments of other family-owned businesses in the sector, such as Hertfordshire-based McMullen's, which also highlighted a "fundamental tension" between rising costs and government expectations of growth.

Outgoing chairman Brims emphasized that the Autumn budget introduced a tax and cost burden without precedent in the 21st century, particularly impacting larger employers. While the government's first of five "missions" is to "kickstart economic growth," the path to achieving this remains unclear, especially in the brewing sector.