Suffolk brewery Adnams suffers a fall in sales after offloading some of its pubs

See more This is Money on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 04:23 EDT, 4 September 2026 Brewer and hospitality firm Adnams saw sales slow in the first half after it put some of its pubs up for sale amid ‘continued pressure’ on consumer spending.The Ghost Ship brewer said trading in its managed pubs and hotels was below expectations, with group revenue falling 8.9 per cent to £27.4million for the six months to the end of June.It followed the disposal of some of its tenanted pubs last year as it battled ‘extremely challenging market conditions'. The 154-year-old Suffolk brewery has come under pressure in recent years, even reportedly considering an outright sale of the business in 2024. Adnams suffered a fall in sales after offloading some of its pubs earlier this year An onslaught of higher costs, including higher National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage, has thwarted its turnaround efforts. The brewer ended 2025 with debts of £9.2million, down from £15.3million, but revenue was £4.3million lower than in 2024.Chair Simon Townsend today said the business was ‘resilient despite continued pressure on consumer spending and subdued trading conditions’.It said it cut operating expenses by over £2million in the period, which it said helped to mitigate some of the impact on overall profitability. Adnams reported a pre-tax loss of £1.42million in the first half, compared to £1.47million in the previous year.Pub and hotel sales started to pick up over the summer thanks to the warmer weather and World Cup, with like-for-like sales growth of 3.3 per cent in July, while profits climbed 10 per cent.Direct-to-consumer sales proved more robust in the first half with trading in supermarkets continuing to outperform the wider beer market, as it piles money into its Ghost Ship brands.The company added: 'Adnams today is a more focused business than it was two years ago.'Whilst there remains much work to do, the board believes the actions being taken are the right ones to create a more resilient, profitable and sustainable business over the long term.' DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you