Pub group Amber Taverns has announced plans to open 17 new pubs by February 2026, following a “landmark year” that saw record sales and continued nationwide expansion.
The chain, which operates 184 pubs across the UK, said it has already opened 11 new venues this year, with six more set to follow in the coming months. The latest addition, The Erasmus Wolfe in Gosport, Hampshire, opened its doors on September 1, marking the group’s most southerly site to date.
Other recent openings include pubs in:
Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
Bathgate, West Lothian
Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
Gosport, Hampshire
Guiseley, West Yorkshire
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Johnstone, Renfrewshire
Leith, City of Edinburgh
Motherwell, North Lanarkshire
Norton, North Yorkshire
Taunton, Somerset
A further six pubs are due to open by early 2026, with confirmed sites in:
Whitchurch, Cardiff (December)
Helensburgh, Nottingham (January)
Bearwood, West Midlands (January)
The company said the expansion reflects its aim to strengthen its presence across southern England while “leveraging its success” across the wider UK.
The announcement follows a strong financial performance. In the year to February 2025, Amber Taverns reported pre-tax profits up 7% to £19.1 million, while revenues rose 9% to a record £119.9 million. Like-for-like sales increased 3.5%, supported by strong trading during the 2024 Euros football championship.
While the first half of the new financial year saw growth “marginally ahead” of last year due to the tough comparison period, the company said sales had picked up again in recent months, with like-for-like sales up 5% in the past 12 weeks.
Chairman James Baer described the past year as a milestone for the business, but criticised government policy for increasing costs in the hospitality sector.
“Despite the best efforts of the Government to dampen consumer confidence and impose unwelcome additional cost on the sector, we believe a well-invested, modern community pub with an engaged and motivated operator will continue to prove a relevant and robust business model,” he said.
Baer added that the company’s southern expansion had been “encouraging,” particularly following the success of the new Gosport site, and confirmed plans to “build a nationwide presence for Amber Taverns.”
Amber Taverns, which was acquired by private equity firm Epiris in October 2024, said it has taken early “management action” to offset rising wage and insurance costs.
Unlike many of its competitors, the group has been less exposed to food price inflation, as its pubs are primarily drinks-led. This strategy, it said, helped shield the business from the higher ingredient costs that have squeezed margins across the sector.
Founded in 2005, Amber Taverns has grown rapidly by investing in affordable, community-focused pubs that often occupy former bank branches or high street sites. Its portfolio now spans England, Scotland, and Wales — and with more openings in the pipeline, the chain shows no signs of slowing down.