Brewer Shepherd Neame toasts record sales as workers return to their offices – and then to the pub

Brewer Shepherd Neame is celebrating record sales as workers return to their offices – then the pub.

The company, which is more than 300 years old, said demand was particularly strong in London as employees spend more time in the office.

Revenue for the six months ended December reached a record £89 million, around 4 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Christmas trading was exceptional, said chief executive Jonathan Neame, and was affected by just six days of the railway strike.

The minimum wage will rise from £10.42 to £11.44 from April and will apply to 21 and 22-year-olds for the first time. Pre-tax profit fell to £1.1m from £5.5m the previous year.