Hollywood Bowl interim profits, revenue rise amid 'robust' demand

(Sharecast News) - Hollywood Bowl posted a jump in interim profit and revenue on Wednesday as it hailed "robust" demand for affordable leisure experiences.

In the six months to the end of March, group adjusted pre-tax profit rose 8.1% from the same period a year earlier to £32.1m, with revenue up 9.5% to a record £141.5m. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew 8.9% to £42.2m and the company lifted its dividend by 10.2% to 4.52p a share.

UK revenue rose 9.4% to £118.4m, with like-for-like revenue up 2.6%. The company said the performance reflects both its continued investment in the customer experience and the "robust appeal of affordable, experience-led leisure".

Revenue in Canada was up 12.8% to CAD42.9m (£23.2m), with LFL revenue up 0.5%. Hollywood Bowl said this demonstrated "meaningful progress as we apply our proven playbook in a highly fragmented and underserved market".

The company said consumers continue to prioritise experiences and shared social occasions over discretionary retail spend, and that bowling's "broad, multigenerational appeal" positions the group strongly within the competitive socialising market.

Chief executive Stephen Burns said: "Our strong performance in the first half has been driven by continued demand from customers for our high-quality and affordable leisure experiences. Our clear strategy and targeted investment programme are delivering. Multiple strategic initiatives are underpinning increased spend per game across our estate, and our new and refurbished centres in the UK and Canada are driving robust returns.

"Looking ahead, we are confident in delivering on expectations for FY26, as customer appeal for our value offer remains robust, and we continue to maintain a tight grip on costs. We have an exciting pipeline of centres for H2 and expect this to accelerate in FY27 and beyond, positioning us for sustainable profitable growth over the long-term."

At 0822 BST, the shares were up 9.3% at 284.08p.

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