Adelphi Hotel owner hails record profits despite ten years as UK's 'worst chain'

The owner of Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel has reported record profits despite being ranked the UK's worst hotel chain for the last decade.

Newly-filed accounts have revealed Britannia Hotels' pre-tax profits swelled to £33.3m for the 12 months to March 31, 2022, after falling to a loss of £9.5m in the prior year.

The documents also show the business, which is headquartered in Hale, Cheshire, achieved a turnover of £117.8m, up from £38.3m.

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The figures compare to its final year before the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in which its turnover totalled £120.4m and its pre-tax profits were £13.7m.

The chain's average number of employees during the financial year increased from 1,765 to 1,818 having been slashed by almost 1,000 in the prior 12 months.

In November 2022, Britannia Hotels was rated the worst in the UK for the 10th year in a row.

Its hotels rated just two stars out of five for categories such as cleanliness, bed comfort and value for money in the annual survey by consumer group Which?. It received an overall customer satisfaction score of just 56%.

Guests described the surroundings as "tired and tatty", with a "rough and ready" feel.

A statement signed off by the board said: "The result represents a return to performance levels comparable to pre-Covid-19 achieved during a period of difficult trading conditions which continues to limit opportunities for growth.

"Our priorities continue to be maintaining occupancy levels and to manage operating costs whilst ensuring that the business is well placed to exploit the opportunities of the future."

On its future, the company added: "The directors remain confident the company is in a good position to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

"The hotels have managed to maintain their competitive edge through the economic downturn and continue to take steps designed to attract new business and improve market share going forward. The directors have carefully considered the availability of working capital and likely levels of trading over the next 12 months.

"They are confident the business is well placed to meet the challenges including the current geopolitical uncertainty, cost of living crisis and the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic."

The company's accounts for the 12 months to March 31, 2023, are due to be filed with Companies House by the end of the year.

A list of all Britannia's hotels:

• Waterside Hotel Peterhead
• Britannia Aberdeen Hotel
• Coylumbridge Aviemore Hotel

• Britannia Edinburgh Hotel

• Britannia Inn Glasgow

• Adamton Country House, Prestwick

• Britannia Hotel Newcastle Airport

• Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, Newcastle

• Grand Hotel Sunderland

• Clifton Hotel Scarborough

• Royal Hotel Scarborough

• Grand Hotel Scarborough

• Britannia Leeds Bradford Airport Hotel

• Hollins Hall Hotel, Golf & Country Club

• Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool

• Savoy Hotel Blackpool

• Grand Hotel Blackpool

• Britannia Hotel Leeds

• Metropole Hotel, Blackpool

• Midland Hotel Bradford

• Royal Hotel Hull

• Scarisbrick Hotel Southport

• Royal Clifton Hotel

• Prince of Wales Hotel Southport

• Britannia Wigan Hotel

• Britannia Bolton Hotel

• Sachas Hotel Manchester

• Britannia Hotel Manchester

• Britannia Country House Hotel, Manchester

• Britannia Airport Hotel Manchester

• Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

• Britannia Hotel Stockport

• The Ashley Hotel, Manchester

• Airport Inn Manchester Hotel & Spa

• Daresbury Park Hotel & Spa, Warrington

• Grand Hotel Llandudno

• Palace Hotel Buxton

• North Stafford Hotel

• Britannia Nottingham Hotel

• Sprowston Manor Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Norwich

• Bosworth Hall Hotel & Spa, Market Bosworth

• Britannia Hotel Wolverhampton

• Britannia Hotel Birmingham

• Royal Court Hotel Coventry

• Britannia Coventry Hill Hotel

• Britannia Hotel Coventry

• Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa

• Britannia Hampstead Hotel

• International Hotel, London

• Basingstoke Country Hotel

• Airport Inn Gatwick

• Russ Hill Hotel Gatwick

• Europa Gatwick Hotel

• Gatwick Lodge

• Grand Burstin Hotel Folkestone

• Meon Valley Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Southampton

• Royal Albion Hotel Brighton

• The Cavendish Hotel, Eastbourne

• Carrington House Hotel Bournemouth

• Roundhouse Hotel Bournemouth

• Britannia Hotel Bournemouth

• Healthlands Hotel Bournemouth

• Royal Bath Hotel Bournemouth

• Trecarn Hotel Torquay

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