After reporting record revenues in 2023, golf venue owner and operator Burhill Group Limited has unveiled record six-month financial results for 2024 despite industry and external economic challenges.
Overall sales for BGL’s golf division are up 11% year-on-year through the six-month period ending June 30.
“Positive trading trends in golf membership, driving ranges, and health and fitness have all contributed to our continued growth,” said Chief Financial Officer Jim Conlan.
Adventure Leisure Ltd, the group’s experiential leisure division, is also showing a healthy sales growth of over 16% year-to-date, driven by a full six months of sales from the most recent openings at Norwich, Bristol, and Romford. The group’s Ninja Leisure business currently operates five locations and sales are on plan for the six months up to June 2024.
The Burhill-headquartered multi-facility operator announced record sales in 2023, up 11.3% to £60.9m, fuelled by a 10% sales growth in the group’s golf division, and an increase in the number of trading locations in the Adventure Leisure arm to 19, which secured an overall sales increase of 16% through 2023.
While the Ninja Leisure side of the business remained at five locations throughout 2023, sales increased by over 7% in 2023 due to a full year of trading from the 2022 openings at Milton Keynes, Manchester, and Swansea.
“It’s pleasing to see the continued growth of the business despite some fairly significant headwinds over the past 18 months, and particularly in 2024,” said Group Chief Executive Officer Colin Mayes. “It is validation for the £10.3m of capital we poured into our golf and leisure businesses in 2023. We are certainly seeing a return on that, but more importantly, it is testament to the entire team and their dedication to providing exemplary facilities and services across our locations.
“We grew the team from 1,079 to 1,173 and to have managed that growth while maintaining very high customer satisfaction levels and business performance makes me extremely proud of everyone involved.”
BGL achieved these results while remaining steadfast in their dedication to becoming carbon neutral. The 2023 capital expenditure included significant investment in sustainability and energy efficiency projects.
Business progress on carbon dioxide emissions is reported under the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting scheme (SECR). This is measured by an intensity ratio calculation of the estimated number of metric tonnes of carbon emissions per £1 million of sales. In 2023, the group’s total intensity ratio including purchasing decisions, showed good progress with emissions reducing from 23.48 tonnes per £1 million sales in 2022 to 21.82 tonnes in 2023, a net reduction of 7%.
