'Our guests love coming to our pubs' - Wolverhampton-based Marston's top boss speaks out as profits surge

Justin Platt, CEO of Marston’s was speaking to the Express & Star after the company announced its full year results for the 52 week period up until September 27, which reveal pre-tax profits have increased by 71.3 per cent.

Mr Platt, who took over as CEO in January 2024, said: “We’re really pleased with the year, profits ahead of plan, significant profit growth on the back of significant profit growth last year, so it’s been a good year in the round. 

“We’re doing that at the same time as driving up guest satisfaction. Our guests love coming to our pubs and hence our satisfaction scores are at the highest level they’ve ever been.”

The launch of new pub formats, which has seen the chain transform boozers into Grandstand sports pubs, Woodie’s family pubs and Two Door venues with two separate areas for drinkers and diners, has proven a hit with punters, bringing a revenue uplift of 23 per cent.

The pub chain, which was founded in 1834 and runs more than 1,300 pubs across the UK, has converted 31 venues this year and Mr Platt said: "They’ve gone really well.

“There’s quite a number in our locality. Being in the heart of Wolverhampton - we think a lot about our environment. We've obviously got a good footprint of estate across here. There’s quite a lot of those investments, of those new pubs, that we’ve done and will continue to do in the area.”

He pointed to the refurbished Spread Eagle pub in Wednesbury, a newly-reopened Two Door pub, and The Woodman in Netherton which he described as a “great Grandstand pub” - adding: “That’s really helping our learnings but also helping that locality.”

He said Marston’s will look to accelerate its conversion programme, to convert a further 50 sites in 2026.

The latest strong trading results mean the pub company, which has its headquarters based in St John’s Square in Wolverhampton, can look forward to a happy Christmas - with bookings 11 per cent ahead on last year. It can also raise a glass to “significant momentum and confidence” as it enters 2026.

The plan is to keep “delivering great experiences” for customers and to create sustainable value for shareholders - Mr Platt said.

The pub’s digital transformation, with enhanced Order & Pay now live across all managed sites, has helped to achieve this and is credited for having resulted in a 10 per cent plus uplift in revenue per transaction.

The company also prides itself on its people and the “outstanding work of our teams” - the CEO emphasised as he praised the work of the chain’s general managers and their teams who drive the business, which was named Best Pub Employer in the 2024 Publican Awards and featured in the Financial Times' Best Employers 2025 list.

Providing there are no surprises in the Budget for the pub industry there will be much to celebrate across the company this Christmas and new year.

Mr Platt would not be drawn on what he hopes the Chancellor might say in her November 26 statement but he said: “We know, as do the government, that pubs are very important in UK society, right at the heart of our communities. 

“I'm hopeful they'll continue to get government support alongside the business support that we're providing.”