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The City Pub Group plc

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FY2017 Annual Report · The City Pub Group plc
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A N N U A L   R E P O R T   &   A C C O U N T S   2 0 17

A B OU T   T H E   G ROU P

The City Pub Company (East) PLC (“CPCE”) and The City Pub 
Company (West) PLC (“CPCW”) were founded by Clive Watson, 
David Bruce and John Roberts, who joined the board in 
December 2011. 

On 1 November 2017, The City Pub Group plc (as consolidated 
“the Group”) was formed through the all share merger of CPCE 
and CPCW by way of a scheme of arrangement of CPCW, 
as further described in the Group’s Admission Document for 
the IPO that the Group completed in November 2017, when the 
shares were admitted to trading on AIM. As such the results 
of the Group are presented as if the Group existed from the start 
of the comparative period. At the same time, CPCE changed 
its name to The City Pub Group plc.

The City Pub Group owns and operates an estate of premium 
pubs across southern England. The Group’s pub estate comprises 
39 free houses located largely in London, Cathedral cities and 
market towns, each of which is focused on appealing specifically 
to its local market. The Group’s portfolio consists of predominantly 
freehold, managed pubs, offering a wide range of high quality 
drinks and food tailored to each of its pubs’ customers.

The City Pub Group leverages its sector contacts and experience 
to ensure it is well placed to acquire, and to have opportunities 
to consider the acquisition of, either freehold or leasehold pubs. 
Following acquisition, it aims to improve profitability through 
targeted investment in each pub, incentivisation of its key 
employees, introducing its flexible retail strategy, dedicated 
marketing and utilising its centralised buying power.

The Directors have considerable experience of acquiring pubs, 
expanding pub portfolios and creating premium pub companies. 
This includes leading the Capital Pub Company from start up 
through to flotation on AIM and its subsequent acquisition by 
Greene King for £93 million.

The Group continued to acquire, in aggregate, on average 6 pubs 
per year. In order to fund the acquisitions, the Companies raised, 
in aggregate, £38.0 million under the Enterprise Investment 
Scheme and through the issue of convertible preference shares. 
The Group raised a further £35 million in gross primary 
proceeds as part of the IPO in November 2017.

C O N T E N T S

Company highlights 

Our business model 
Our key strengths 

Strategic report
1 
2-3  At a glance
4-7  Chairman’s statement
8 
9 
10  Market overview 
Our strategy 
11 
12-13  Our relationships 
Business review 
14 
Principal risks and uncertainties
15 

Corporate governance
16-17  Board of Directors 
18-21   Corporate governance report
22-23  Directors’ report

Financial results
24-27  Independent auditor’s report
28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

 Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income
 Consolidated statement  
of financial position
 Company statement  
of financial position
 Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity
 Company statement  
of changes in equity
 Consolidated statement of cash flows
 Company statement of cash flows

33 
34 
35-57  Notes to the financial statements
58 

 Directors, officers and 
Company information

C OM PA N Y   H IG H L IG H T S

F I N A N C I A L

O P E R A T I O N A L

Revenue up 35% to

£37.4m

(2016: £27.8 million)

Adjusted EBITDA* up 51% to

£6.1m

(2016: £4.1 million)

Adjusted profit before tax** up 102% to

£3.2m

(2016: £1.6 million)

Reported (loss)/profit of 

(£0.7)m

(2016: £0.4 million)

Total annual dividend up 50% to

2.25p

(2016: 1.50p)

Net debt to EBITDA 

0 times

(2016: 3.3 times)

Land ownership

Number of 
trading sites

34

As at February 2018

3.8%

Strong 
performance with 
like for like sales 
growth of 3.8%, 
driven by good 
growth in drink and 
accommodation.

  Freehold 59%

  Leasehold 41%

City Pubs 
consistently score 
well on social 
media (as at 25 
September 2017)

TripAdvisor average rating

Google+ average rating

4.0 

4.2 

S T R A T E G Y   U P DA T E

Merged The City Pub Company (East) PLC “CPCE” with The City Pub Company (West) 
Limited “CPCW” to form the City Pub Group plc “CPG”.

Floated on AIM in  
November 2017 raising

£35m

of new equity for the 
Group

8

new pubs  
opened in 2017

12

new bedrooms added to 
the estate taking the total 
number of bedrooms to 44

2017

2016

Revenue
£m

Operating
 profit

EBITDA
£m

(Loss)/
profit
before
tax

Revenue
£m

Operating 
 profit

EBITDA

Profit 
before tax
£m

Reported

37.4 

0.7 

2.7 

(0.2)

27.8 

1.6 

3.1 

0.6 

Share option 
charge

Exceptional 
items

– 

– 

Adjusted

37.4 

0.2

0.2

0.2

3.2 

4.1 

3.2 

6.1 

3.2 

3.2 

– 

–

27.8 

0.3 

0.3 

0.3 

0.7 

2.6 

0.7 

4.1 

0.7 

1.6 

Throughout the Annual Report we use a range of financial and non-financial measures 
to assess our performance. A number of the financial measures, including Adjusted Profit 
before tax and Adjusted EBITDA are not defined under IFRS, so they are termed 
‘Alternative Performance Measures’ (APMs). Management use these measures to monitor 
the Group’s financial performance alongside IFRS measures because they help illustrate 
the underlying performance and position of the Group.

*  Adjusted earnings before exceptional items, share option charge, interest, taxation, depreciation and 

amortisation.

** Adjusted profit before tax is the profit before tax, share option charge and exceptional items.

0 1

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
AT   A   G L A N C E

W H A T   W E   D O

P U B   E S T A T E

Established in 2011, The City Pub Group is a 
managed pub business operating in London 
and the South of England. It has a collection 
of 34 unbranded free-house pubs currently 
trading, clustered around affluent Cathedral 
cities. Its premium, wet-led offer and flexible 
approach give it broad customer appeal 
across residents, workers, students, shoppers 
and tourists. 

Product offering
The Directors believe that in the premium 
managed pub sector, liquor sales such as 
craft ales, craft spirits and independent coffee 
brands offer higher growth potential, higher 
margins and higher predictability over sales 
than traditional beers, lagers and spirits. 
Food menus are also developed individually 
for each pub and offer high quality, freshly 
prepared food, providing good value for 
money and offering a wide range of choice. 
Increasingly, more healthy and vegan options 
are being offered in each pub to broaden the 
appeal to a wider range of customers.

The Group has five key target markets:  

E R S

P

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SH O

RESID

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I
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F
F
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STUDE N T S

Freehold

Leasehold

T I M E L I N E

2011
Co-founded by Clive Watson,  
David Bruce and John Roberts as  
The City Pub Company East and  
The City Pub Company West

Cambridge Brew House, Cambridge 
Acquired 2012

The Phene, London 
Acquired 2013

2012
First four pubs to the start trading
•  The Cork, Bath
•  The Mill, Cambridge
•  St Aldates Tavern, Oxford
•  Cambridge Brew House, Cambridge

The Group has a portfolio of 39 sites in southern England and Wales shown 
on the map below: There were 33 trading sites at the end of 2017. Our 34th site 
started trading at the end of February 2018.

20

19

12

08

11

07

37

13

09

10

23

21

22

38

15

17

18

16

04

03

02

05

01

06

39

14

30 

28 

33 

29

32

31

26

25

34

27

36

24

35

2013
Pubs added to portfolio
•  Alfie’s, Winchester
•  Bath Brew House, Bath
•  The Lighthouse, London
•  The Phene, London
•  The Georgian Townhouse, Norwich
•  The Roundhouse, London

0 2

Daly’s Wine Bar, London 
Acquired 2014

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
23 of the pubs in the portfolio are freehold and 16* are leasehold as follows:

Cambridge

Southampton

London

Bath

01

02

Brighton

03

04

Bristol

05

06

Cardiff

07

08

09

10

11

12

13

37 Old Ticket Office

Exeter

14

17

Hayling Island

18

Norwich

19

20

Oxford

21

22

23

Winchester

Reading

39

The Pontcanna Inn

15

16

38

Name TBC

*  Daly’s Wine Bar and Temple Brew House operate under a single lease.

2015
Pubs added to portfolio
•  The Old Bicycle Shop, Cambridge
•  The George Street Social, Oxford
•  The Walrus, Brighton
•  Prince Street Social, Bristol
•  King Street Brew House, Bristol
•  The Cock & Bottle, London

The Lion and Lobster, Brighton 
Acquired 2014

The Roundhouse, London 
Acquired 2013

2014
Pubs added to portfolio
•  Daly’s Wine Bar, London
•  Temple Brew House, London
•  The Lion and Lobster, Brighton
•  St Andrew’s Brew House, Norwich
•  The Nell Gwynne, London

2016
Pubs added to portfolio
•  The Cat & Mutton, London
•  Inn on the Beach, Hayling Island
•  The Punt Yard, Cambridge
•  The Petersfield, Cambridge
•  The Althorp, London
•  London Road Brew House, Southampton
•  The Westgate, Winchester

The Walrus, Brighton 
Acquired 2015

0 3

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

*

*

36

Tell Your Friends

2017
Pubs added to portfolio
•  Three Crowns, London
• Waterman, Cambridge
•  Grapes, Oxford
•  Red Lion, Cambridge
•  Old Fire House, Exeter
•  Aragon House, London

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSC H A I R M A N ’ S   S TAT E M E N T

The City Pub Group is a 
vibrant, growing business with 
a clear strategy, a strong and 
experienced management team 
and a well-developed pipeline 
of sites with an exciting market 
opportunity ahead.”

Clive Watson
Executive Chairman

0 4

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 20172017 was a pivotal year in the evolution 
of the City Pub Group. At the end of last 
October, the City Pub Company (East) Plc 
(“CPCE”) combined with City Pub Company 
(West) Ltd (“CPCW”) to form the City Pub 
Group plc (CPG or “the Group”). The Group 
was subsequently listed onto AIM on 
November 23 raising £35m at 170p. EIS 
shareholders also placed £11.6m of shares 
with new institutional shareholders.

The AIM listing achieved a liquidity event 
for existing EIS shareholders and the 
Group’s statement of financial position 
has been significantly strengthened 
providing the platform for the Group to 
acquire further pubs and double the size 
of its estate to 65-70 pubs by 2021.

2017 was a strong year financially with sales 
up 35% to £37.4m, adjusted EBITDA* up 51% 
to £6.1m and adjusted EBITDA* margins 
which increased from 14.7% to 16.4%. 

The Board recommends a final dividend 
of 2.25p per share (2016 1.5p) representing 
a 50% increase on the prior year.

Trading estate
The Group is made up of 39 high quality 
local pubs that are predominately drink 
led. The Group has grown steadily by 
selective acquisitions to build the Group 
as it is today (34 trading & 5 to open).

2017 was a year of significant growth and 
development driven by acquisitions and 
good performance. The Group began the 
year trading with 25 pubs and 3 newly 
acquired sites that had yet to trade. 

At the end of January, the Group opened 
its first pub in Southampton, the London 
Road Brew House (previously Varsity). 
It had a very encouraging start and has 
continued to improve performance in 
the early stages of 2018.

A busy February saw the Group increase its 
presence in Oxford through the acquisition 
of Beerd on George Street. This pub traded 
as Beerd until August before being closed 
for refurbishment and reopening as The 
Grapes. At the end of this month we also 
opened The Petersfield in Cambridge 
(previously called Backstreet Bistro). 
During February the Group also acquired 
its tenth London pub, The Three Crowns in 
Shoreditch, which was closed for a minor 
refurbishment before reopening at the  

end of March. Performance of The Three 
Crowns has been encouraging to date and  
with significant development of the local  
area in progress, we see further potential  
for growth.

After significant investment, May saw 
the highly anticipated opening of our 
largest pub, The Walrus in Brighton. 
The pub, previously named Smugglers, 
was purchased in 2015 and it has traded 
well under our ownership, building on its 
strong start with an excellent Christmas 
performance. 

In June the Group added another two 
well-established freeholds to its estate: 
the Old Fire House in Exeter and The Red 
Lion in Histon, Cambridge. The Group 
also added The Waterman in Cambridge, 
in July, building on its existing presence 
in the area. The Waterman has had a 
major refurbishment. 

In September 2017, the Group acquired 
Aragon House, a freehold pub on the 
New Kings Road in London, which is due  
to open in September 2018. The acquisition  
of the long-leasehold interest of the King  
Street Brew House in Bristol towards the 
end of the year further strengthened the 
statement of financial position.

The momentum since IPO in November 
2017 has continued with the Group 
acquiring five further pubs to date and 
exchanging contracts on another 2 pubs.

•  The Belle Vue in Clapham, a freehold  
asset, was acquired in January and  
re-opened at the end of February  
following a minor refurbishment 

•  An all-vegan pub in Parsons Green 
in London will open in April 2018

•  The acquisition of two further freehold 

pubs in Reading and Cardiff allowed the 
Group to expand its geographic footprint 

•  The completion of the acquisition of the 
Old Ticket Office in Cambridge has seen 
the Group further grow its existing 
hub there

•  Most recently, contracts have been 
exchanged on two new sites with  
completion expected at the end of April

Once the development pubs are 
opened and contracts for the new pubs 
completed, the Group will have 41 sites 
of which 59% are freehold.

*  Adjusted earnings before exceptional items, share option charge, interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation.

0 5

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSC H A I R M A N ’ S   S TAT E M E N T   C ON T ’ D

Market 
While the wider UK pub sector has 
experienced contraction, the managed 
pub sub-sector in which the Group operates 
is forecast to grow in value by 11% from 
£9.9 billion in 2016 to £11.1 billion in 2019 
(Source: MCA UK Pub Market Report).

The Board is pleased with the significant 
increase in the Group’s adjusted EBITDA 
performance and the improvements in its 
operating (EBITDA) margins which have 
increased from 14.7% to 16.4% and should 
increase further as the central overhead 
base becomes more efficient.

The Directors believe this growth is driven 
by consumer preferences moving away 
from chain and branded pubs and towards 
pubs with an individual identity and an 
ambience which reflects the local market. 
Together with the move toward individual 
pubs, consumer tastes have continued 
to evolve, trending towards craft ales and 
lagers, premium spirits and wines and 
good quality food which incorporate local 
produce. The Directors therefore believe 
that a managed pub with an entrepreneurial 
tenant or owner, who is able to tailor both 
the ambience and product range of a pub 
to its local target market, can retain the 
flexibility required to respond to evolving 
consumer trends.

Financial highlights
As the number of pubs has increased 
the Group has benefitted from economies 
of scale which has assisted the financial 
performance of the Group.

Summary for the year ended 
31 December 2017:

•  Revenue up 35% to £37.4 million 

(2016: £27.8 million)

•  Adjusted EBITDA* up 51% to £6.1 million 

(2016: £4.1 million)

•  Adjusted profit before tax** up 102% 

to £3.2 million (2016: £1.6 million)

•  Reported (loss)/profit of (£0.7) million 

(2016: £0.4 million)

•  Total annual dividend up 50% to 2.25p 

(2016: 1.50p)

•  Net debt to EBITDA 0 times 

(2016: 3.3 times)

The reported loss has been adversely 
affected by a number of one-off costs 
largely relating to the flotation (see 
Note 8 for further explanation).

Statement of financial position and 
bank borrowings
As a result of the equity fundraising the 
statement of financial position has been 
significantly strengthened. Using the net 
proceeds of the IPO, the Group repaid its 
revolving credit facility and ended the year 
without any borrowings and subsequent 
to the recent pub purchases bank debt 
remains low at approximately £3m. 

The Group has in place a £30m revolving 
credit facility with Barclays expiring in 
July 2021. At the appropriate time it is the 
Board’s intention to increase these facilities 
and extend the length. The Board has 
adopted a conservative gearing policy of 
around 30% of asset value and will utilise 
cash generated from the existing estate 
to also fund acquisitions.

Board 
With the amalgamation of CPCE and 
CPCW, Rupert Clark and Alex Derrick have 
become Joint Group Managing Directors 
responsible for the day-to-day operations 
of the Group.

I remain Executive Chairman responsible 
for managing the Board, the growth of the 
Group and exploring further acquisition 
opportunities.

On listing, Richard Prickett was appointed 
Senior Independent Director with James 
Watson stepping down after 5 years as a 
Board member. We thank James for his 
contribution to the success of the business.

In January this year Neil Griffiths became 
our second independent Director. Neil, 
formerly Chief Operations Officer of Punch 
Plc, replaced David Bruce who was one of 
the Co-Founders of the Group. The Board 
is immensely grateful to David for his 
energy, insight and guidance as we 
went from start up to trading on AIM.

*  Adjusted Earnings before exceptional items, share option charge, interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation.

** Adjusted profit before tax is the profit before tax, share option charge and exceptional items.

0 6

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017Dividend
The Board’s intention is to have a 
progressive dividend policy and increase 
future dividends in line with underlying 
performance of the Group.

The Board recommends a final  
dividend of 2.25p per share (2016 1.50p)  
representing a 50% increase on the prior  
year. If approved, at the Company’s AGM,  
the dividend will be paid on 2 July 2018  
to shareholders on the share register  
as of 1 June 2018. As previously, a scrip 
dividend alternative will be available to 
those shareholders who wish to receive 
their dividends in shares. I will be electing 
to subscribe for the scrip dividend for 
the entirety of my holding. 

Employee profit share
With retention of staff becoming 
increasingly important, the Board believes 
that the Group is at the forefront of the 
industry in rewarding its employees. In 
2015 the Board put in place an innovative 
Profit Share Scheme so that all employees 
could share in the Company’s success.

As a result of the Employee Profit Share 
Scheme, employees who had been with 
the Group since 1 January 2017 were each 
paid £750 representing an increase of over 
30% on last year’s payment. By sharing 
up to 3% of the Group’s EBITDA less bank 
interest we continue to build and retain 
a motivated and incentivised workforce.

Annual General Meeting
The AGM will be held at Temple Brew 
House at 11am on Monday 14 May 2018. 

Current trading & outlook
For the first 14 weeks of the year, total sales 
were up 22% on prior year with 34 sites 
open and trading. The snow adversely 
impacted trading for a short period, however 
with key sporting events, particularly the 
World Cup football tournament in June, 
the opening of the 7 pubs earmarked for 
2018 and a strong acquisition pipeline, 
we are confident of delivering continued 
strong progress and meeting expectations 
for the year as a whole. 

The last six months have seen us complete 
the first part of our journey and start our 
second stage. In common with all in the 
hospitality industry, there are challenges 
such as rising employee costs, business 
rates increase and uncertainty around 
Brexit. Increasing sales, scale and 
efficiency will mitigate the bulk of these.

The Board is confident that with its  
strong trading estate and statement  
of financial position we are well placed  
to take advantage and will benefit from 
weakening acquisition prices as we  
expand our portfolio. 

I would like to take this opportunity to 
thank everyone: employees, advisors, 
suppliers, banks and my Co Directors for 
their contributions in enabling this Group 
to thrive thus far. The City Pub Group has 
the opportunity to continue to grow and 
prosper and build on the solid foundations 
already in place.

Clive Watson
Chairman, The City Pub Group plc,  
11 April 2018

0 7

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSOU R   B U S I N E S S   MODE L

O U R   A P P ROAC H 

City Pub Group stands out from the crowd with its unique and 
premium offer. This is embedded in its culture and influences 
everything from site selection, food and menu design to the 
quality of its employees.

Importantly its portfolio is built up of unbranded, wet-led pubs 
in high footfall areas that appeal to a broad range of customers. 
Each pub is centred on a high calibre level of staff that offers a 

relaxed, enthusiastic charming environment. The Group has 
a solid track record of identifying, acquiring, refurbishing and 
repositioning pubs to drive higher returns. Its approach is highly 
differentiated and combines the flexibility of the managed pub 
model with the entrepreneurialism of the tenanted model. This 
differentiated approach has been honed over management’s 
100 collective years of pub retail experience.

Premium and differentiated product offering

Liquor-led pubs with  
high quality food offering

Quick to adapt to consumer  
habits for food and drink

Micro breweries in selected sites  
add differentiation and choice variety

People and culture

Quality staff are key to  
the company’s strategy

Track record of hiring exceptional 
managers who are well trained and 
incentivised with targeted programmes

Typically hire from within resulting  
in low staff turnover

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DEDICATED 
MARKETING

D  

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Sourcing

Central buying power

Benefiting from attractive 
long term agreements 
with suppliers due to its 
scale

Acquisition and 
transformation of sites

Extensive network in the 
industry enables privileged 
access to new sites

Seamless integration 
of acquired pubs

Need for refurbishment 
decided on a case-by-
case basis

Dedicated marketing

Marketing is predominately  
reputation-based supported by 
strong online reviews

Recent introduction of innovative  
app ‘City Club’ aims to engender 
customer loyalty

0 8

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
OU R   K E Y   S T R E N GT H S

Management strength 
and track record provides 
confidence in the deliverability 
of a premium hyper-local 
strategy of refurbishing and 
repositioning wet-led pubs 
across UK cathedral cities.

Premium operator creating  
individual identify for each pub 
The Group’s pub estate and flexible retail strategy 
addresses the trend away from branded pubs 
and toward premium individualised pubs, each 
of which have a product range appropriate for 
their local market. 

Scalable platform with strong  
pipeline of potential acquisitions
The centralised infrastructure platform, comprising 
systems and processes as well as head office staff, 
enables a smooth change of ownership for the 
pubs which are currently in the acquisition pipeline, 
as well as those identified through the Group’s 
appraisal of both individual sites and portfolios 
of pubs across southern England.  

The group is asset backed
An independent valuation report by CBRE 
valued the Group’s portfolio at £73.65 million as 
at 11 October 2017. This valuation does not include 
Aragon House, a freehold pub which the Group 
acquired on 21 September 2017 for £7.75 million. 
The Group had a portfolio of 34 pubs (including 
Aragon House), at that time. 

Impressive financial  
performance and growth
The Group has enjoyed consistently strong 
sales and EBITDA growth, with steadily increasing 
operating margins over the last two years. New 
supplier agreements are expected to further 
improve operating margins going forward. 

Experienced management team,  
motivated staff and strong culture
The management team of the Group has over 
100 years’ experience in the pub industry with 
an excellent reputation, extensive contact base 
and proven skill in identifying attractive sites for 
an attractive price. Staff are incentivised to focus 
on customer service and are represented at board 
meetings, giving a high retention rate among key 
staff and a strong sense of culture.

The Cock and Bottle, London 
Acquired 2015

0 9

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
UK pub market
At the end of 2016, the UK’s total pub 
market consisted of 47,548 pubs, with 
a total market value of £21.55 billion. 
From 1990 to 2015, the UK pub sector 
experienced a decline from approximately 
70,000 pubs to 50,000 pubs (BBPA), the 
key drivers of which have been changes 
in consumer preferences, the upsurge in 
cheap alcohol sales from supermarkets 
and the 2007 smoking ban, in addition 
to the wider economic slowdown.

While the wider UK pub sector has 
experienced contraction, the managed 
pub sub-sector has grown by 8.3 per cent. 
from c.8,688 pubs in 2013 to c.9,408 pubs 
in 2016. This sub-sector is forecast to grow 
in value by 11% from £9.9 billion in 2016 to 
£11.1 billion in 2019 (Source: MCA UK Pub 
Market Report). The Directors believe this 
growth is driven by consumer preferences 
moving away from chain and branded 
pubs and towards pubs with an individual 
identity and an ambience which reflects 
the local market. Together with the move 
toward individual pubs, consumer tastes 
have continued to evolve, trending 
towards craft ales and lagers, premium 
spirits and wines and good quality 
food which incorporate local produce. 
The Directors therefore believe that a 
managed pub with an entrepreneurial 
tenant or owner, who is able to tailor both 
the ambience and product range of a pub 
to its local target market, can retain the 
flexibility required to respond to evolving 
consumer trends.

Together with the move 
toward individual pubs, 
consumer tastes have 
continued to evolve, 
trending towards 
craft ales and lagers, 
premium spirits and 
wines and good quality 
food which incorporate 
local produce.

M A R K E T   OV E R V I E W

2016 UK pub market

47,548 pubs

2016 UK pub market value

£22bn

Forecast growth in pub sector

11%

Number of pubs split by segment

Pubs and restaurants – share 
of total eating-out market:

63%

Consumer food score  
for pub food quality:

8.33 /10

50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0
0

22,370

17,345

2,901

8,688

2013

+8.3%

17,510

17,900

2,730

9,408

2016

+11%

13,000

19,100

2,480

10,450

2019E

Managed

Other

Freehouse

Tenanted/Leased

Managed-pub sector growth  
(2013–2016)

8.3%

Estimated managed-pub  
sector value in 2019

£11.1bn

1 0

Acquisition landscape
The contraction of the UK pub sector 
and uncertain market conditions arising 
from the 2007 smoking ban, the wider 
economic slowdown and the rise in cheap 
alcohol sales from supermarkets and 
changing consumer trends has provided 
opportunities for independent pub 
companies to expand their estates 
through the acquisition of both individual 
pubs and portfolios of pubs.

In addition, the Directors believe smaller 
pub companies and individual pub 
operators who have been slower to 
respond to the increased importance 
of social media, menu and pub designs, 
as well as changing health and safety 
legislation, are selling their businesses, 
providing further opportunities for 
independent pub companies to grow 
their estates.

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017OU R   S T R AT E G Y

At present, the Group has 34 trading pubs and it intends to double the size of 
its estate over the next three to four years. The Group already has extensive 
relationships with property agents specialising in the licenced trade industry 
and many of these relationships have been in existence for a number of years.

Acquisition strategy
The Group’s acquisition strategy is broken down into four key areas and the Directors 
believe that these areas will provide sufficient acquisition opportunities to support the 
targeted growth of the Group’s pub estate.

1

2

3

4

Acquisition of existing pubs
Central to the Group’s acquisition strategy is buying existing pubs which are 
already trading well and are typically sold by private sellers. The main change 
is to transfer the pub’s supply contracts onto the Group’s centralised platform, 
quickly improving operating margins. The Group prides itself on the way it 
works with the existing employees in these pubs and, over a period of time, 
aims to integrate these employees into the Group’s entrepreneurial culture.

Acquisition of trading pubs which require redirection
The Group also seeks to acquire existing pubs that require modest 
refurbishment and improved retailing standards. Typically, the Group will 
target an investment of circa £250,000 to tailor the décor to the pub’s local 
market and improve the liquor and food offerings, as well as help the existing 
staff to adopt an entrepreneurial approach in managing the pub.

Closed down pubs requiring extensive refurbishment
The Group also looks to acquire sites that are either underperforming or 
have been closed down and which provide the opportunity for the Group 
to substantially refurbish and improve the product offer to better serve the 
tastes of the Group’s target consumers.

Unlicensed premises
The Group is able to target sites which are currently unlicensed but which 
present the opportunity to be transformed into premium trading pubs. 

The Group typically targets pubs and sites which produce, or are expected to produce, 
higher EBITDA per pub than the industry average. The Directors believe that by 
focusing on sites expected to produce a higher EBITDA, head office costs as a 
percentage of sales are reduced and this performance also enables the attraction 
and retention of top performing pub managers.

The Group evaluates new sites by testing them against five key target markets: 
residents, office workers, students, tourists and shoppers. For a new site to be 
considered, it must address at least four of the five key target markets.

The Nell Gwynne, London 
Acquired 2014

1 1

Refurbishment strategy
The Group’s strategy is to enhance existing 
sites rather than redesign to a set formula. 
The Directors believe that an operation 
comprising individual quality outlets which 
are unbranded will trade better over the 
longer term. When refurbishing a pub, 
the Group adopts a timeless design style 
which is one of high quality but is not 
fashionable or contemporary. A typical 
refurbishment is undertaken in a style 
which the Directors believe is long lasting 
and through regular maintenance to 
maintain the estate to a high standard, 
future refurbishment costs are reduced 
and closures of pubs for major 
refurbishments are minimised.

Our strategy is to 
enhance existing sites 
rather than redesign 
to a set formula. 
Our Directors believe 
that an operation 
comprising individual 
quality outlets which 
are unbranded will 
trade better over the 
longer term.

Acquisition pipeline
The Group is continually appraising both 
individual sites and portfolios of pubs 
across southern England and has 
developed a strong pipeline of potential 
acquisitions out of the large number of 
opportunities presented. The Group is 
targeting the acquisition of 8-10 pubs per 
annum. All acquisitions are subject to 
approval by the Board and a key 
consideration, when seeking board 
approval, is to recommend pubs and sites 
in areas which are not highly competitive. 

The Group has a low annual rent charge 
compared to its turnover which was circa 
3.4% as at 31 December 2017 and the 
Group intends to keep it at this level.

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSOU R   R E L AT ION S H I P S

Temple Brew House, London 
Acquired 2014

Our aim is to offer customers  
exceptional experiences, while 
striving to offer employees sufficient 
development possibilities to build a 
career within the company.

O U R   P E O P L E

Recruitment and retention of high quality 
staff is key to the Group’s strategy, both 
at head office and across the estate. 
The Group’s staff are well trained and 
appropriately incentivised, given their 
respective roles, with the focus on 
attracting the most suitable employees 
to support the growth of the Group and 
maintain high levels of consumer 
satisfaction.

People and culture
The Group’s localised strategy requires 
a certain standard and quality in its staff. 
The inherent ability to be engaging, 
intelligent and motivated are key 
attributes. The strategy to focus within 
Cathedral cities means finding the right 
type of staff should be easier especially 
as universities are central to all these 
cities. Finding the right people is followed 
by training programmes and a highly 
rewarding incentives package that we feel 
is unique in the industry. Putting its staff at 
the heart of the business is also reflected, 
with two employee representatives 
included at every board meeting.

Operation structure and staffing
Growth, accompanied with the clustering 
strategy, means many General Managers 
are ‘homegrown’. This has allowed for 
progression to area manager in some 
cases. Each pub has a General Manager 
and head Chef on-site. The average full 
time equivalent (FTE) staff per pub ranges 
from 15-20 depending on size and offer 
(higher for those with accommodation 
and greater food offer). The operational 
structure is highly devolved fostering a 
more entrepreneurial spirit that is rarely 
seen in larger groups.

Number of staff

Proportion of pub workforce 
(by task)

Proportion of pub workforce 
(by region)

500

400

300

200

100

0

216

23

285

33

2014

2015

462

344

48

2016

61

2017

Front of house
71.0%

Back of house
29.0%

UK 70.0%

EU 27.0%

Other 3.0%

Management & Administration

Pub staff

Source: company

Source: company

1 2

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017Staff training and incentives
Training
The overarching aim is to offer customers exceptional experiences, while striving to 
offer employees sufficient development possibilities to build a career within the Group. 

Incentives
The City Pub Group has developed a comprehensive incentives policy with all employees 
participating at some level. Importantly bonuses are based on both quantitative and 
qualitative targets are paid out weekly, monthly, as well as annually. This is unique in 
the industry, in our view.

Selective trainings offered to employees:

Management

Administrative

Food & Beverage

Assistant Manager 
Development Programme

Managing  
Events

WSET Wine & Spirit 
Education Trust

Disciplinary  
Workshop

Fire Marshall

Chef Development 
Programme

Supervisor Development 
Programme

Flow Online  
Training

Brewery & Cellar 
Management

Excellence in Senior 
Management

First Aid

Personal License

O U R   C U S T O M E R S

While value for money is a major 
component, there is a key focus on a 
premium offer across the entire estate. 
Aligned with keeping the values of the 
pub intact, there is an aim for the pub 
to become a central part of the local 
community by incorporating local 
suppliers, local staff and providing 
several reasons for people to visit often.

Adapting and driving 
consumer preference
Shifts in consumer preferences combined 
with the changing profile of the high street, 
have blurred the lines between pubs, 
restaurants, cafes and coffee shops. 
Customers are now able to have a 
breakfast in a pub or dinner in a coffee 
shop. Menus are developed individually 
for each pub and offer good value across 
a wide range of choice. Increasingly, 
healthier and vegan options are being 
offered in each pub to broaden the appeal 
to a wider range of customers.

The Group has five  
key target markets:

E R S

P

P

SH O

RESID

E

N

T

S

T
O
U

R

I

S

T

S

S
E
R
C
E
I
K
F
F
R
O
O
W

STUDE N T S

1 3

The Group has 
recently centralised 
its food purchasing 
function resulting in 
an improvement in 
its purchasing terms 
and will enable greater 
economies of scale to 
be achieved as the pub 
estate grows.

Cambridge Brew House, Cambridge 
Acquired 2012

O U R   S U P P L I E R S 

The Group adopts a long term approach 
with its suppliers and has maintained 
relationships with its major suppliers 
since inception. This includes contractors, 
professional advisers, designers and 
property agents, as well as food and 
drink suppliers.

The Group has recently entered into a 
number of three year fixed-term supply 
agreements with its major suppliers. 
These agreements cover over 80% of 
the Group’s liquor purchases and are 
expected to generate c. £1 million in 
cost savings, compared to its previous 
arrangements, over the next three years. 
The Group has also recently centralised its 
food purchasing function and significantly 
reduced the number of its suppliers. 
This has resulted in an improvement in its 
purchasing terms and will enable greater 
economies of scale to be achieved as the 
pub estate grows.

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSB U S I N E S S   R E V I E W

Financial performance 

2017

Operating 
profit
£m

EBITDA
£m

(Loss)/profit 
before tax
£m

Revenue
£m

2016

Operating 
profit
£m

EBITDA
£m

Profit 
before tax
£m

 0.7 

0.2 

 3.2 

 4.1 

2.7 

0.2 

 3.2 

 6.1 

 (0.2)

 27.8 

0.2 

 3.2 

3.2 

 – 

 – 

 27.8 

 1.6 

 0.3 

 0.7 

 2.6 

 3.1 

 0.3 

 0.7 

 4.1 

 0.6

 0.3 

 0.7 

 1.6 

Revenue
£m

 37.4 

 – 

 – 

 37.4 

Reported

Share option 
charge

Exceptional 
items

Adjusted

The Group has a strong financial position as a cash generative 
business with a high quality, mainly freehold asset base. The bank 
debt has been repaid leaving the ratio of net debt to pro forma 
EBITDA of 0 times (2016: 3.3 times).

We have grown our revenue by 35% on the prior year with the 
majority of the growth coming from the eight new pubs opened 
in the year along with the strong like for like trading of the existing 
estate. Our adjusted operating profit before separately disclosed 
exceptional items grew by 58% to £4.1 million (2016: £2.6 million). 

Separately disclosed exceptional items before tax of £3.2 million 
comprised £0.45 million impairment provision on a Bristol site, 
£0.9 million of pre-opening costs expensed and £1.8 million of costs 
related to the IPO. Before separately disclosed exceptional items 
and share option charge, adjusted profit before tax was therefore 
£3.2 million (2016: £1.6 million). 

Tax has been provided for at a rate of 19.25% (2016: 20.0%) on 
adjusted profits. A full analysis of the tax charge for the year 
is set out in note 7. 

Adjusted EBITDA increased by 51% to £6.1 million (2016: £4.1 million) 
reflecting the performance of the larger estate. There was an 
increase in depreciation of 28% on the prior period. Net finance 
costs before separately disclosed exceptional items are in line 
with prior year at £1.0 million. 

Review of the business
The purpose of the business review is to show how the Company 
assesses and manages risk, and adopts appropriate policies and 
targets. Further details of the Company’s business and future 
developments are also set out in the Chairman’s statement.

The Group generated cash from operating activities of £4.0 million 
(2016: £4.2 million). In line with our acquisition strategy, we invested 
£17.3 million on the acquisition and opening of eight pubs during 
the year, including the subsequent refurbishments. The new 
sites were – The Grapes in Oxford, The Petersfield in Cambridge, 
The Three Crowns in Shoreditch, The Old Fire House in Exeter, 
The Red Lion in Histon, The Waterman in Cambridge, Aragon 
House in Parsons Green and what will be a vegan pub also in 
Parsons Green. 

The Group has £30 million of available long term facilities, available 
until June 2021. The Group had repaid all the bank debt following 
the equity raise at the time of the IPO. There is a further £6.4 million 
of cash held on the statement of financial position at year end.

KPIs
Legislation requires the Board to disclose Key Performance 
Indicators (KPIs) relevant to the Company. The KPIs are revenue, 
adjusted EBITDA and customer reviews. Comments regarding the 
trading performance of the sites can be found in the Chairman’s 
Statement. Trading overall has been in-line with the Board’s 
expectations. 

KPIs that we use include; revenue, adjusted EBITDA, site EBITDA 
and customer reviews (e.g. Trip Advisor scores).

1 4

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017PR I N C I PA L   R I S K S   A N D   U N C E R TA I N T I E S

The following are some of the principal risks and uncertainties that face the Group:

Dependence on key 
executives and personnel

The Group’s future success is substantially dependent on the continuing services and performance of 
the highly skilled pub managers and its ability to continue to attract and retain them. The Directors believe 
the Group’s culture and remuneration packages are attractive, which should assist key staff retention. 
The Directors are indemnified against public liability claims through Directors and Officers insurance.

Risks relating to growth 
strategy

Licences, permits and 
approvals

The continuing growth of the Group is largely dependent on its ability to identify and acquire free-of-
tie, managed pubs in the South of England. If the Group is unable to find suitable acquisition targets at 
an acceptable price, this may have an adverse effect on the Group’s future success. The price of such 
pubs may be affected by interest rates, inward investment in the UK, the demand for pubs and other 
factors outside of the Group’s control. The Group may face competition from other organisations, 
which may be larger or better funded than itself, either within or outside of the pub sector, when 
seeking to acquire new sites. However, the Directors believe that the size of the market and the 
number of pubs in this area will mean that the Group will continue to be able to grow. The Group 
also faces the risk that acquisition due diligence does not identify all risks and liabilities.

The pub industry in the UK is highly regulated at both national and local levels and pub operators 
require licences, permits and approvals. Delays and failures to obtain the required licences or permits 
could adversely affect the operations of the Group. These laws and regulations impose a significant 
administrative burden on each pub and additional or more stringent requirements could be imposed 
in the future. Each of the Group’s pubs is licensed to permit, amongst other things, the sale of liquor. 
Should any of the Group’s pub licences be withdrawn or amended, the profitability of any such pub 
could be adversely impacted. The Group has processes in place to ensure all necessary licences are 
obtained on a timely basis, and to monitor compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Health and safety regulation The Group is subject to regulation in areas such as health and safety and fire safety. Whilst the Group 

believes it has appropriate policies and procedures in place, these may need to adapt which may 
require additional expenditure. Furthermore, in order to ensure the Group’s sites remain fully compliant 
with legislative requirements there will always be the need to maintain premises, not only generally 
but if an ad hoc issue arises, which again will require capital expenditure.

Whilst the Group currently has a portfolio of 34 trading pubs, the level of EBITDA generated by each of 
these pubs varies with the largest pub within the portfolio generating approximately 8% of the EBITDA 
from pubs (EBITDA from pubs being EBITDA before head office costs) for FY17. In the event that for any 
reason, there was a deterioration in the operating performance of any pub generating a significantly 
higher than average level of EBITDA for the Group, this could have an adverse impact on the Group’s 
overall operating results, financial condition and prospects.

It is possible that economic factors such as further reduced access to debt and tax increases may 
decrease the disposable income that customers have available to spend on drinking and eating out. 
This could lead to a reduction in the revenues of the Group’s pubs. The Group is likely to face increased 
competition as a source of alcohol from supermarkets and off-licences as well as other entities 
operating in its business sector which may have greater resources than the Group. As a result the 
Group could be adversely affected by the increased competitive pressures which result. However, 
the Directors believe that the location of the Group’s pubs, which are generally in prosperous provincial 
towns, means that the Group is well placed to cope with such pressures.

The Government is also considering initiatives to deal with so-called ‘‘binge drinking’’. Whilst the 
Directors do not consider that these initiatives will be directly relevant to the Group’s pub portfolio 
given their planned locations and customer profile, any focus on the potentially harmful effects of 
alcohol may reduce sales of alcoholic beverages. 

Key pubs

Market

Alcohol

On behalf of the Board

Tarquin Williams
Chief Financial Officer 
11 April 2018

1 5

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSB OA R D   OF   DI R E C T OR S

E X E C U T I V E   D I R E C T O R S 

Clive Watson ACA (56) 
Executive Chairman
Clive qualified as a Chartered Accountant 
with Price Waterhouse in London in 1986 
then joined the investment bank 
Manufacturers Hanover Limited where he 
spent three years. He joined Regent Inns 
PLC as Finance Director and Company 
Secretary in 1990. Clive left Regent Inns 
PLC in February 1998 and co-founded Tup 
Inns Limited, where he was responsible for 
financial and commercial matters as well 
as acquisitions, before becoming Chief 
Executive and Finance Director of Tom 
Hoskins PLC, an AIM listed company. Clive 
was a founding director of The Capital Pub 
Company PLC in 2000 and remained on 
the board until the company’s sale to 
Greene King in 2011. Clive was appointed 
as Chief Executive of The City Pub 
Company (East) PLC in December 2011 
before becoming Chairman in September 
2014 and served throughout the period.

Rupert Clark (45) 
Managing Director
Rupert has over 20 years’ experience 
in the running of high-volume food and 
liquor-led pubs, both in and outside 
London. Rupert was previously Operations 
Manager of The Capital Pub Company PLC 
and was with Capital for four years. After 
the sale of Capital to Greene King in 2011 
Rupert stayed on to ensure the smooth 
integration of pubs into the Greene King 
estate. Prior to Capital, Rupert worked as 
Operations Manager at The Food and Drink 
Group, repositioning their City bars, and at 
Fullers first developing The Fine Line brand 
and then their unbranded bars and gastro 
pubs. Rupert was appointed as Joint-Chief 
Executive of The City Pub Company (East) 
PLC in April 2013 becoming sole Chief 
Executive in September 2014 and served 
throughout the period.

Tarquin Williams ACMA (47)
Chief Financial Officer
Tarquin has considerable experience in 
the managed & tenanted pub industry. 
He spent 16 years with Fuller Smith & 
Turner PLC from 1997; the last eight years 
there he was Chief Accountant for Fullers 
Inns, with an estate of circa 400 pubs. 
Tarquin then spent a short period of time 
serving as Chief Operating Officer at the 
Ladies European Tour running their head 
office based at the Buckinghamshire Golf 
Club. Tarquin was appointed as Finance 
Director of the City Pub Company (East) 
PLC in March 2015 and served throughout 
the period.

Alex Derrick (42) 
Managing Director
Alex has over 18 years’ experience in 
running premium, independent pubs. He 
was previously the Operations Director of 
The Capital Pub Company PLC and during 
his seven years at Capital helped oversee 
the expansion of the estate from 13 to 35 
pubs. Prior to joining Capital, Alex was the 
Operations Manager for Jacomb Guinness 
Limited and The Union Bar and Grill 
Limited, which operated five premium 
London gastro pubs. Alex was appointed 
as Joint Chief Executive of the City Pub 
Company (West) Limited in April 2013 
becoming sole Chief Executive in 
September 2014 and was appointed 
as a Director of the City Pub Company 
(East) PLC on 25 October 2017.

1 6

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017N O N -E X E C U T I V E   D I R E C T O R S

C O M PA N Y   S E C R E T A R Y

James Dudgeon (70)
Company Secretary
James has been Company Secretary 
since 2011. He was previously Company 
Secretary of the Capital Pub Company.  
He has an accounting background.

Neil Griffiths (56) 
Independent Non-Executive Director
Neil was appointed as a Non-Executive 
Director of the Group on 17 January 2018. 
Neil qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 
1987 and has over 30 years of experience 
in retail, leisure and property sectors. 
Neil worked at Punch Taverns plc from 
2001 to 2017 holding a number of senior 
management roles including Chief 
Operating Officer, Chief Strategy Officer 
and Group Property Director. Neil joined 
Punch from Time Warner where he was 
International Property Director for their 
cinema division. Prior to that he held a 
number of Senior Management and 
Divisional Board roles at Bass Plc 
including Head of Property and 
Commercial Development Director. Neil 
is a Trustee Director for the Prince of Wales 
initiative ‘Pub is the Hub’. He is a former 
Council member of the British Beer & Pub 
Association having sat on panels and 
committees for both the BBPA and Royal 
Institution of Chartered surveyors. Neil is 
Chairman of the Nominations Committee 
and sits on the Audit & Risk and 
Remuneration Committees.

John Roberts (60) 
Non-Executive Director
John has been involved in the food and 
beverage industries for over thirty five 
years, with more than twenty of those 
years in the brewing and pubs sector. In 
1994 John joined Courage, becoming 
Strategic Planning Director for the newly 
formed Scottish Courage. John joined the 
board of Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC in 1996 
as Sales and Marketing Director, before 
then managing the Fuller’s Beer Company 
from 1999, initially as Beer and Brands 
Director, and later as its Managing Director. 
In addition, John has sat on a number of 
committees of the British Beer and Pub 
Association and Independent Family 
Brewers of Britain. John was appointed as 
Director of The City Pub Company (East) 
PLC in December 2011 and served 
throughout the period. John sits on 
the Audit & Risk, Remuneration and 
Nominations Committees.

Richard Prickett (66) 
Independent Non-Executive Director
Richard was appointed as a Non-
Executive Director of the Company on 
25 October 2017. Richard has considerable 
public markets experience, gained 
through numerous non-executive director 
roles including acting as Independent 
Non-Executive Director for Regent Inns 
Plc and the Capital Pub Company. Richard 
currently serves as a Non-Executive 
Director to Pioneer (City) Pub Company, 
a start up EIS managed pub company, 
Non-Executive Chairman for City Natural 
Resources High Yield Trust Plc. Richard is 
also Finance Director to Landore 
Resources Limited. Richard qualified as a 
chartered accountant in 1973 with Coopers 
& Lybrand and has many years’ experience 
in corporate finance. Richard is Chairman 
of both the Remuneration Committee and 
the Audit & Risk Committee, and sits on 
the Nominations Committee.

London Stock Exchange 
City Pub Group plc admission to AIM, 23 November 2017

1 7

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSC OR P OR AT E   G OV E R N A N C E   R E P OR T
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

The Directors recognise the importance of sound corporate 
governance and confirm that they intend to comply with the QCA 
Guidelines, (as devised by the QCA in consultation with a number 
of significant institutional small company investors) in so far as 
practicable having regard to the current stage of development 
of the Group. 

The Board comprises seven Directors of which four are executives 
and three are non-executives, reflecting a blend of different 
experience and backgrounds. The Board considers Richard 
Prickett and Neil Griffiths of the non-executive directors to be 
independent in terms of the QCA Guidelines. 

Following Admission, the Board will meet regularly to review, 
formulate and approve the Group’s strategy, budgets, and 
corporate actions and oversee the Group’s progress towards 
its goals. In accordance with the best practice, the Group has 
established Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Nomination 
committees with formally delegated duties and responsibilities 
and with written terms of reference. From time to time separate 
committees may be set up by the Board to consider specific 
issues when the need arises.

Board of Directors
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s system of 
internal control and reviewing its effectiveness. Key elements 
of the system of internal control include clearly defined levels 
of responsibility and delegation, together with well-structured 
reporting lines up to the Board; the preparation of comprehensive 
budgets for each pub and head office, approved by the Board; 
a review of period results against budget, together with 
commentary on significant variances and updates of both profit 
and cash flow expectations for the period; Board authorisation of 
all major purchases and disposals and regular reporting of legal 
and accounting developments to the Board.

Details of the current Directors, their roles and their backgrounds 
are on pages 16 and 17.

Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee will assist the Board in discharging 
its responsibilities, within agreed terms of reference, with regard 
to corporate governance, financial reporting and external and 
internal audits and controls, including, amongst other things, 
reviewing the Group’s annual financial statements, reviewing 
and monitoring the extent of the non-audit services undertaken 
by external auditors, advising on the appointment of external 
auditors and reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s internal 
controls and risk management systems. The ultimate responsibility 
for reviewing and approving the annual report and accounts and 
the half yearly reports remains with the Board. Membership of the 
Audit and Risk Committee compromises Neil Griffiths, John Roberts 
and Richard Prickett and it is chaired by Richard Prickett. The Audit 
and Risk Committee will meet formally not less than twice every 
year and otherwise as required.

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee is responsible, within agreed terms 
of reference, for establishing a formal and transparent procedure 
for developing policy on executive remuneration and to set the 
remuneration packages of individual Executive Directors. This 
includes agreeing with the Board the framework for remuneration 
of the Executive Directors, the company secretary and such 
other members of the executive management of the Group 
as it is designated to consider. It is furthermore responsible 
for determining the total individual remuneration packages of 
each Executive Director including, where appropriate, bonuses, 
incentive payments and share options. No Director may be 
involved in any decision as to their own remuneration. The 
membership of the Remuneration Committee comprises Neil 
Griffiths, John Roberts and Richard Prickett and the committee 
is chaired by Richard Prickett. The Remuneration Committee will 
meet not less than twice a year and at such other times as the 
chairman of the committee shall require.

Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee will have responsibility for reviewing 
the structure, size and composition of the Board and recommending 
to the Board any changes required for succession planning and for 
identifying and nominating (for approval of the Board) candidates 
to fill vacancies as and when they arise. The Nomination Committee 
is also responsible for reviewing the results of the Board 
performance evaluation process and making recommendations 
to the Board concerning suitable candidates for the role of senior 
independent director and the membership of the Board’s committees 
and the re-election of Directors at the annual general meeting. 
The membership of the Nomination Committee comprises Neil 
Griffiths, John Roberts and Richard Prickett and the committee 
is chaired by Neil Griffiths. The Nomination Committee will meet 
not less than once a year and at such other times as the chairman 
of the committee shall require.

1 8

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017Share incentive arrangements
The Directors believe that the success of the Group will depend to 
a significant degree on the future performance of the management 
team. The Directors also recognise the importance of ensuring 
that all employees are well motivated and identify closely with the 
success of the Group. The Directors regard equity participation to 
be an important aspect of the Group’s ability to attract, retain and 
incentivise its key staff. The Group currently provides, and intends 
to continue to provide, key senior management team members 
with an equity incentive in the Group.

The Existing Share Option Schemes consist of the EMI Share Option 
Scheme and the CSOP Share Option Scheme. Both CPCE and 
CPCW granted tax advantaged Enterprise Management Incentive 
(EMI) options over the respective company’s shares to employees 
in 2013, and made further grants of EMI options in 2014. These EMI 
options became exercisable three years after the option holder 
commenced employment. After CPCE and CPCW became ineligible 
to grant any further EMI options, each company adopted a tax 
advantaged Company Share Option Plan (CSOP) in 2016 and 
made further option grants under those plans over the respective 
company’s shares. These CSOP options ordinarily become 
exercisable shortly after the third anniversary of their grant date.

In order to put the CPCW option holders in broadly the same 
position as the CPCE option holders, following the Scheme, the 
CPCW option holders were given the opportunity to exchange 
their EMI and CSOP options for equivalent replacement options 
over Ordinary Shares. If CPCW option holders do not exchange 
their EMI options, but instead exercise them and acquire CPCW 
ordinary shares, such CPCW ordinary shares would be 
immediately acquired by the Company in exchange for 
an equivalent number of Ordinary Shares under the articles 
of association of CPCW.

exercised, conditional on Admission. Certain of the Ordinary 
Shares acquired in connection with the exercise of such options 
form part of the Sale Shares. No further options may be granted 
under the EMI Share Option Scheme. 

Options granted under the CSOP Share Option Scheme (including 
replacement options granted under the CPCW CSOP) will continue 
on the same terms following Admission and therefore will potentially 
become exercisable following the third anniversary of their date 
of grant. The Company may also grant further options under the 
CSOP Share Option Scheme following Admission. 

In order to incentivise the key senior management team following 
Admission, and to better align their interests with those of 
shareholders, the Company proposes to introduce a JSOP. It is 
intended that awards be granted under the JSOP shortly after 
Admission. 

Immediately following Admission and the exercise of the 
Exercised Options (but before making any Awards under the 
JSOP), the Company will have granted options over 1,042,500 
Ordinary Shares representing 1.85 per cent. of the Enlarged Share 
Capital. Taking this into account, an additional 4,604,233 Ordinary 
Shares remain available for reward under the JSOP and the CSOP 
after Admission.

Senior bonus scheme
The Group has adopted a senior bonus scheme which provides 
for payment of discretionary annual performance based bonuses 
to senior key employees and executive directors of the Company. 
Bonus targets are set in relation to the profit of the Group. No 
pay-out would be made if the minimum threshold on the bonus 
target schedules is not achieved. The targets have been selected 
to incentivise the senior key employees and executive directors 
to deliver performance in line with the Group strategy.

The terms of the options under the EMI Share Option Scheme 
(including the replacement options) provide that they would lapse 
40 days after Admission, and therefore all such options have been 

Directors’ emoluments
Directors’ emoluments for the period were as follows:

Single total figure of remuneration table
The following table shows a breakdown of the remuneration of individual Directors who served in all or part of the year:

Salary/Fees

Annual Bonus

IPO Bonus**

Taxable Benefits

Other*/Pension

Total

Clive Watson

Alex Derrick

Rupert Clark

Tarquin Williams

David Bruce

John Roberts

James Watson

Richard Prickett

2017
£000

101

101

101

86

43

28

17

8

2016
£000

95

95

95

80

42

27

23

–

2017
£000

136

147

155

71

41

30

–

–

2016
£000

103

92

113

21

35

35

7

–

2017
£000

254

180

240

128

56

42

–

–

Total

485

457

580

406

900

2016
£000

2017
£000

2016
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3

5

4

2

–

–

–

–

14

3

–

1

1

–

–

–

–

5

2017
£000

271

209

209

1

–

41

–

–

2016
£000

2017
£000

2016
£000

–

–

–

–

–

41

–

–

765

642

709

288

140

141

17

8

201

187

209

102

77

103

30

–

731

41

2,710

909

** The IPO bonus was paid out 45% in cash and 55% in shares at the time of the IPO at the placing price of £1.70.

*  Other includes the gain on the exercise of the EMI share options at the time of the IPO.

1 9

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
C OR P OR AT E   G OV E R N A N C E   R E P OR T   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Directors interests
As at 31 December 2017 the Directors of the Company held the following number of shares:

The Directors share interest represents 8.0% of the ordinary shares in circulation.

Directors Share Interests

David Bruce

Ordinary 50p shares

Convertible Preference 50p shares

Rupert Clark

Ordinary 50p shares

‘B’ ordinary 1p shares

Convertible Preference 50p shares

Alex Derrick

Ordinary 50p shares

‘B’ ordinary 1p shares

Richard Prickett

Ordinary 50p shares

John Roberts

Ordinary 50p shares

Convertible Preference 50p shares

Clive Watson

Ordinary 50p shares

‘B’ ordinary 1p shares

Convertible Preference 50p shares

James Watson

Ordinary 50p shares

Tarquin Williams

Ordinary 50p shares

‘B’ ordinary 1p shares

2017

2016

591,985

–

555,059

–

–

425,682

–

520,706

150,000

143,464

300,000

50,000

100,000

300,000

58,823

–

339,704

–

2,252,882

–

–

–

291,412

291,200

100,000

817,306

300,000

3,450,000

–

–

–

300,000

2 0

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Director’s Share Options

Director

Scheme

As at
25 December
2016

Exercised

Lapsed

Granted

As at
31 December
2017

Exercise
price

Date of
grant

Exercisable
from

Expiry
date

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

£0.50

Oct-13

Oct-17

£1.20

Oct-13

Oct-17

£1.20

Oct-14

Nov-17

30,000

£1.00 May-16

May-19 May-26

30,000

–

–

–

£0.50

Oct-13

Oct-17

£1.20

Oct-13

Oct-17

£1.20

Oct-14

Nov-17

30,000

£1.00 May-16

May-19 May-26

30,000

–

–

–

£0.50

Oct-13

Oct-17

£1.20

Oct-13

Oct-17

£1.20

Oct-14

Nov-17

30,000

£1.00 May-16

May-19 May-26

30,000

30,000

£1.00 May-16

May-19 May-26

30,000

£1.00 May-16

May-19 May-26

60,000

150,000

Rupert Clark

EMI

EMI

EMI

100,000 (100,000)

100,000 (100,000)

75,000

(75,000)

CSOP

30,000

–

Total

305,000  (275,000)

Alex Derrick

EMI

EMI

EMI

100,000 (100,000)

100,000 (100,000)

75,000

(75,000)

CSOP

30,000

–

Total

305,000  (275,000)

Clive Watson

EMI

EMI

EMI

150,000

(150,000)

100,000 (100,000)

80,000

(80,000)

CSOP

30,000

–

Total

360,000  (330,000)

Tarquin Williams

Total

TOTAL

CSOP

CSOP

30,000

30,000

60,000

–

–

 –

1,030,000  (880,000)

Richard Prickett
Independent Non-executive Director,  
11 April 2018

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2 1

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DI R E C T OR S ’  R E P OR T
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

The Directors present their Report and the consolidated 
financial statements of the Group for the 53 week period ended 
31 December 2017.

Results and dividends
The statement of comprehensive income is set out on page 28 
and shows the loss for the period. The Directors recommend the 
payment of a dividend of 2.25p per ordinary share. This is an 
increase of 50% on last year’s dividend.

Strategic report 
Information in respect of the Business Review, Future Outlook 
of the Business and Principal Risks and Uncertainties are not 
shown in the Directors’ Report because they are presented in the 
Strategic Report in accordance with s414c(ii) of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Directors
The Directors who served during the year were as follows:

Clive Watson  
Rupert Clark
Alex Derrick (appointed 25 October 2017)
Tarquin Williams
David Bruce (resigned 17 January 2018)
John Roberts 
James Watson (resigned 30 September 2017)
Richard Prickett (appointed 25 October 2017)
Neil Griffiths (appointed 17 January 2018)

Going concern 
The Directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial 
statements on a going concern basis. Cash flow forecasts have 
been produced to June 2019 that indicate the Group has sufficient 
headroom to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable 
future. The Group has repaid its borrowings with its bankers, 
Barclays Bank during the year. 

Purchase of own shares
On 25 October 2017 the Company purchased 12,500 of its own 
shares for £1.82 and 31,250 of its own shares for £1.60, in order to 
ensure that the issued share capital of the Company matched that 
of The City Pub Company (West) Limited, which was a company 
under common control. These shares were then cancelled. The 
total purchase of its own shares of 43,750 shares represented less 
than 0.34% of the called up share capital at the time. The shares 
were re-purchased wholly out of the proceeds of a fresh issue, 
so no amounts were transferred to a capital redemption reserve.

Other share capital movements are disclosed in Note 22.

Financial risk management objectives and policies
The Group’s operations expose it to financial risks that include 
market risk and liquidity risk. The Directors review and agree 
policies for managing each of these risks and they are 
summarised below. These policies have remained unchanged 
from previous periods.

Market risk – cash flow interest rate risk
The Group had no outstanding borrowing at year end as disclosed 
in note 18. These were loans taken out with Barclays to facilitate 
the purchase of additional public houses. 

The Group’s policy is to minimise interest rate cash flow risk 
exposures on long-term financing. Longer-term borrowings are 
therefore usually at fixed rates. At 31 December 2017 the Group 
had no borrowings, since the year end the Group has drawn down 
on the revolving credit facility, so is exposed to changes in market 
interest rates. The exposure to interest rates for the Group’s cash 
at bank and short-term deposits is considered immaterial.

Liquidity risk
The Group actively maintains cash and banking facilities that are 
designed to ensure it has sufficient available funds for operations 
and planned expansions.

Capital risk management
The Group manages its capital to ensure it will be able to continue 
as a going concern while maximising the return to shareholders 
through optimising the debt and equity balance. 

The Group monitors cash balances and prepare regular forecasts, 
which are reviewed by the board. In order to maintain or adjust 
the capital structure, the Group may, in the future, return capital 
to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

Employment policy
The Group’s policies respect the individual regardless of gender, 
race or religion. Where reasonable and practical under the 
existing legislation, all persons, including disabled persons, 
have been treated fairly and consistently in matters relating to 
employment, training and career development. The Group takes 
a positive view of employee communication and has established 
systems for employee consultation and communication of 
developments. The Group has also commenced operating 
an employee share scheme as a means of further encouraging 
the employees in the Group’s performance.

2 2

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017Directors’ Responsibilities Statement
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, 
Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with 
applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the 
Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. 
Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the financial 
statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. Under 
company law the Directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view of the state of affairs of the Group and parent Company and 
the profit and loss of the Group for that period. In preparing those 
financial statements, the Directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent; 

•  state whether applicable IFRSs have been followed, subject to 

any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial 
statements; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 

unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue 
in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time 
the financial position of the Group and enable them to ensure that 
the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the 
Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as each of the Directors is aware, there is no relevant audit 
information that has not been disclosed to the Group’s auditors 
and each of the Directors believes that all steps have been taken 
that ought to have been taken to make them aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the Group’s 
auditors have been made aware of that information.

Relations with Shareholders
The Group maintains effective contact with Shareholders and 
welcomes contact from investors as mentioned in the Chairman’s 
Statement. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the 
Group’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ 
from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Political donations
The Group made no political donations during the period.

Post balance sheet events 
Post balance sheet events requiring adjustment or disclosure are 
explained within note 29 to the financial statements.

Auditors
Grant Thornton UK LLP have signified their willingness to continue 
in office as auditors, a resolution reappointing them will be 
submitted to the Annual General Meeting.

On behalf of the Board

Tarquin Williams

Chief Financial Officer  
11 April 2018

2 3

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSI N DE PE N DE N T   AU DI T OR’ S   R E P OR T
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Independent auditor’s report to the members of  
The City Pub Group plc
Opinion

Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified
We have audited the financial statements of The City 
Pub Group plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries 
(the ‘group’) for the period ended 31 December 2017 which 
comprise the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, the consolidated statement of financial position, 
the company statement of financial position, the consolidated 
statement of changes in equity, the company statement of 
changes in equity, the consolidated statement of cash flows 
and the company statement of cash flows and notes to the 
financial statements, including a summary of significant 
accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in the preparation of the group financial 
statements is applicable law and International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European 
Union and, as regards the parent company financial statements, 
as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies 
Act 2006. 

In our opinion:

•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the 

state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as 
at 31 December 2017 and of the group’s loss for the period 
then ended;

•  the group financial statements have been properly prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

•  the parent company financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
European Union and as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and 

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 

with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards 
on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities 
under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s 
responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section 
of our report. We are independent of the group and the parent 
company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are 
relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including 
the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we 
have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance 
with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence 
we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 
for our opinion.

Who we are reporting to
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, 
in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 
2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might 
state to the company’s members those matters we are required 
to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or 
assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the 
company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, 
or for the opinions we have formed.

Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

•  the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in 

the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

•  the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any 
identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt 
about the group’s or the parent company’s ability to continue to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at 
least twelve months from the date when the financial 
statements are authorised for issue.

Overview of our audit approach
•  Overall materiality: £377,000, using the group’s 

total revenues as a benchmark.

•  Key audit matters were identified as: the 

impairment of property, plant and equipment; the 
presentation of separately disclosed exceptional 
items; and equity transactions not being 
accounted for correctly.

• We performed full scope audit procedures at all 

material locations.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional 
judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to 
fraud) that we identified. These matters included those that had 
the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of 
resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement 
team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit 
of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion 
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

2 4

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017Key Audit Matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Impairment of property, plant  
and equipment 
As explained in notes 2.16 and 11, the 
Directors are required to make an 
impairment assessment for property, plant 
and equipment when there is an indication 
that an asset may be impaired. The process 
for measuring and recognising impairment 
under International Accounting Standard 
(IAS) 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’ is complex 
and highly judgemental. We therefore have 
identified the assessment of impairment of 
property, plant and equipment as a 
significant risk, which was one of the most 
significant assessed risks of material 
misstatement.

Presentation of separately disclosed 
exceptional items
As set out in the consolidated income 
statement and note 8, the financial 
statements included a net charge of £3.2m 
in respect of separately disclosed items. 
There is significant management 
judgement in the determination of these 
items, which are not defined by IFRS’s as 
adopted by the European Union, and 
reported upon as part of an alternative 
performance measure within the financial 
statements. Consistency of presentation is 
important for maintaining comparability 
between reported results for each period. 
We therefore identified the presentation of 
separately disclosed items as a significant 
risk, which was one of the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement.

Equity transactions not accounted  
for properly
As set out in notes 2.1, 2.4, 2.12, 8 and 22 the 
company listed on AIM during the period 
and the financial statements include the 
accounting for a share for share exchange, 
the allocation of IPO costs to both the 
income statement and equity and the 
conversion of convertible preference shares 
to equity. There is significant management 
judgement in the accounting of these items. 
We therefore identified the accounting for 
equity transactions as a significant risk, 
which was one of the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  Evaluating the accounting policy and disclosures made for compliance with IFRSs as 
adopted by the EU and ensuring the application by the Group is consistent with the 
stated policy

•  Testing the integrity of the data used in the impairment models by agreeing a sample 

of inputs to source data (such as budgeted EBITDA) and assessing the appropriateness 
of key assumptions (such as discount rate and growth rates)

•  Testing the accuracy of management’s forecasting through a comparison of historic 

budgeted amounts to subsequent actuals

•  Challenging management’s impairment model, by using industry data (sector multiples) 

and other publicly available information to consider the reasonableness of 
management’s assessment of the recoverable amount for sites.

The group’s accounting policy on the impairment of property, plant and equipment is shown 
in note 2.16 to the financial statements and related disclosures are included in note 11. 

Key observations
Based on our audit work we are satisfied that the judgements made, and assumptions 
used by management in performing the impairment review were balanced and 
supported by the evidence obtained from our testing.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  Agreeing the classification is consistent with the Group’s stated accounting policy and 

is consistent with that presented in prior periods

•  Testing a sample of the costs and the criteria used by management to determine the 

classification as a separately disclosed item

•  Considering whether the classification was appropriate, and the presentation enhanced 
the clarity and the understanding of the financial statements for the reporting period

The company’s accounting policy on Exceptional Items is shown in note 2.9 to the 
financial statements and related disclosures are included in note 8. 

Key observations
Based on our audit work we are satisfied that the classification of separately disclosed 
exceptional items is consistent with the stated accounting policy and that the 
classification and disclosure of these items is appropriate.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  Assessing and challenging the accounting and judgements exercised for the share 
for share exchange, the allocation of IPO costs and the conversion of convertible 
preference shares.

•  Testing a sample of IPO costs and their allocation to both the income statement 

and equity

The company’s accounting policy on Equity transactions is shown in note 2.12 to the 
financial statements and related disclosures are included in statement of changes in 
equity and note 22. 

Key observations
Based on our audit work we are satisfied that the judgements made, and assumptions 
used by management in accounting for equity transactions is appropriate and is 
supported by the evidence obtained from our testing. 

2 5

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSI N DE PE N DE N T   AU DI T OR’ S   R E P OR T   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Our application of materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic decisions 
of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in determining the nature, timing and extent 
of our audit work and in evaluating the results of that work. 

Materiality was determined as follows:

Materiality Measure

Group 

Parent

Financial statements as a whole

Performance materiality used to 
drive the extent of our testing

Specific materiality

£377,000 using total revenue as a 
benchmark. This benchmark is considered 
the most appropriate because revenue best 
reflects the level of activity of interest to the 
user of the financial statements whilst the 
company continues to grow.

Materiality for the current year is lower than 
the level that we determined for the prior 
period to reflect the change of the group’s 
status from a non-listed group to a listed.

£199,000 using total revenue as a benchmark. 
This benchmark is considered the most appropriate 
because revenue best reflects the level of activity 
of interest to the user of the financial statements 
whilst the company continues to grow.

Materiality for the current year is lower than the 
level that we determined for the prior period to 
reflect the change of the company’s status from 
a non-listed group to a listed.

60% of financial statement materiality.

60% of financial statement materiality.

We also determine a lower level of specific 
materiality for certain areas such as 
Directors’ remuneration and related party 
transactions, on the basis that these 
balances are material by nature.

We also determine a lower level of specific 
materiality for certain areas such as Directors’ 
remuneration, related party transactions, and 
cash, on the basis that these balances are material 
by nature.

Communication of misstatements 
to the audit committee

£18,850 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

£9,900 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a 
thorough understanding of the group’s business, its environment 
and risk profile and in particular included: 

•  evaluation by the group audit team of identified components 

to assess the significance of that component and to determine 
the planned audit response based on a measure of materiality. 
Although the Group financial statements are a consolidation 
of the Parent Company and its trading subsidiaries, 100% of the 
Group’s revenue and 100% of the Group’s profit before taxation 
arose in the Parent Company and in the main trading subsidiary, 
The City Pub Company (West) Limited, on which we performed 
comprehensive audit procedures;

•  recognition that the Group is organised as one primary operating 
division. We tested controls over the financial reporting systems 
identified as part of our risk assessment, reviewed the accounts 
production process and addressed critical accounting matters. 
We sought, wherever possible, to rely on the effectiveness of the 
Group’s internal controls in order to reduce substantive testing;

•  undertaking controls and substantive testing where applicable 
on significant transactions, balances and disclosures, the extent 
of which was based on various factors such as our overall 
assessment of the control environment, the design effectiveness 
of controls over individual systems and the management of 
specific risks.

Other information
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other 
information comprises the information included in the annual 
report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s 
report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not 
cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise 
explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form 
of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our 
responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent 
with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the 
audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we 
identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is 
a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material 
misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work 
we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are required to 
report that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

2 6

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the  
financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an 
auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance 
is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit 
conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a 
material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise 
from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or 
in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence 
the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these 
financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 
This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Marc Summers, FCA
Senior Statutory Auditor  
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
London 
11 April 2018

Our opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies 
Act 2006 is unmodified
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of 
the audit:

•  the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ 
report for the financial year for which the financial statements 
are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

•  the strategic report and the directors’ report have been 

prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report under the 
Companies Act 2006
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and 
the parent company and its environment obtained in the course 
of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the 
strategic report or the directors’ report. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in 
relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to 
you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent 

company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the parent company financial statements are not in agreement 

with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law 

are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit. 

Responsibilities of directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement 
set out on page 23, the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the 
directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of 
financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible 
for assessing the group’s and the parent company’s ability to 
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters 
related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 
accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the 
group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no 
realistic alternative but to do so.

2 7

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSC ON S OL I DAT E D   S TAT E M E N T   OF   C OM PR E H E N S I V E   I N C OM E 
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Revenue

Costs of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Operating profit

Reconciliation to adjusted EBITDA*

Operating profit

Depreciation and amortisation

Share option charge

Exceptional items

*  Adjusted earnings before exceptional items, share option charge, interest, 

taxation, depreciation and amortisation

Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before tax

Tax expense

(Loss)/profit for the period and total comprehensive income

Earnings per share

Basic (loss)/earnings per share (p)

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (p)

All activities comprise continuing operations.

Notes

4

2017
£

37,403,515 

(9,657,731)

2016
£

27,762,513 

(7,529,656)

27,745,784 

20,232,857 

(27,019,242)

(18,680,490)

 726,542 

1,552,367 

 726,542 

1,552,367 

 1,963,891 

1,528,660 

 258,195 

 3,200,643 

310,479 

691,185 

 6,149,271 

4,082,691 

(986,560)

 (260,018)

 (456,423)

 (716,441)

(971,415)

580,952 

(196,680)

384,272 

 (2.45)

(2.45)

 1.49 

1.44

5

25

8

6

5

7

10

10

There are no recognised gains or losses other than those passing through the statement of comprehensive income. The notes form part 
of these financial statements.

2 8

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
C ON S OL I DAT E D   S TAT E M E N T   OF   F I N A N C I A L   P O S I T ION
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Notes

2017
£

2016
£

11

12

14

15

16

18

18

17

21

22

22

22

22

22

22

 2,524,681 

 1,359,713 

 67,947,419 

 50,426,116 

 70,472,100 

51,785,829

 553,909 

 1,652,888 

 6,414,854 

 8,621,651 

 466,319 

 1,182,942 

 1,264,586 

2,913,847

 79,093,751 

54,699,676

 (6,147,068)

 (4,633,119)

 (244,707)

 (294,396)

 (6,391,775)

 (4,927,515)

–

(18,004,917)

 (310,000)

 (1,081,823)

 (24,978)

 (534,097)

 (1,391,823)

(18,563,992)

 (7,783,598)

(23,491,507)

71,310,153

31,208,169

 28,233,667 

 12,934,904 

 31,276,189 

 97,000 

–

 5,532,076 

 92,042 

 326,364 

90,000

 798,079 

 11,381,891 

 11,756,110 

71,310,153

31,208,169

Assets

Non-current

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Total non-current assets

Current

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Total current liabilities

Non-current

Borrowings

Other payables

Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital

Share premium

Convertible preference share (CPS)

Other reserve

Share-based payment reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

The notes form part of these accounts.

Approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 11 April 2018.

Clive Watson 
Chairman 

Tarquin Williams
Chief Financial Officer

Company No. 07814568

2 9

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
C OM PA N Y   S TAT E M E N T   OF   F I N A N C I A L   P O S I T ION
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Assets

Non-current

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments in subsidiaries

Total non-current assets

Current

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Total current liabilities

Non-current

Borrowings

Other payables

Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital

Share premium

Convertible preference share (CPS)

Share-based payment reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

Notes

2017
£

2016
£

11

12

13

14

15

16

18

18

17

21

22

22

22

22

22

 1,102,295 

 407,758 

 38,845,198 

 25,403,326 

 11,913,696 

 250,153 

 51,861,189 

 26,061,237 

287,607 

 11,569,904 

 4,536,505 

 266,826 

 793,720 

 889,626 

 16,394,016 

 1,950,172 

 68,255,205 

 28,011,409 

 (3,390,548)

 (2,367,099)

 (122,354)

 (147,198)

 (3,512,902)

 (2,514,297)

–

–

 (308,369)

 (308,369)

 (9,653,732)

 (12,489)

 (290,705)

 (9,956,926)

 (3,821,271)

 (12,471,223)

64,433,934

15,540,186

 28,233,667 

 6,473,702 

 31,276,189 

 97,000 

–

 2,766,038 

 198,303 

 441,174 

 4,725,775 

 5,762,272 

64,433,934

15,540,186

The loss for the financial period of the Parent Company, The City Pub Group plc was £1,248,607 (2016: profit £31,692). 

The notes form part of these accounts.

Approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 11 April 2018.

Clive Watson 
Chairman 

Tarquin Williams
Chief Financial Officer

Company No. 07814568

3 0

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
C ON S OL I DAT E D   S TAT E M E N T   OF   C H A N G E S   I N   E QU I T Y 
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

310,479 

1,343,360 

211,500 

1,865,339 

–

–

258,195 

216,062 

– 4,444,566 

–

–

– 36,360,040 

–

–

–

(72,750)

Balance at 28 December 2015

12,910,404 

Employee share-based compensation

Issue of convertible preference shares 
treated as equity

Issue of share capital on private placement

25

22

22

Notes

Share
capital

Share
premium

–

–

–

–

–

1,343,360 

–

24,500 

97,000 

–

90,000 

Transactions with owners

24,500 

97,000 

1,343,360  90,000  310,479 

Convertible
preference
share (“CPS”)

Other
reserve

Share-
based
payment
reserve

Retained
earnings

Total

4,188,716 

– 487,600 

11,371,838  28,958,558 

–

–  310,479 

Profit for the period

Total comprehensive income for the 
period

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

384,272 

384,272 

384,272 

384,272 

Balance at 25 December 2016

12,934,904

97,000 

5,532,076  90,000  798,079 

11,756,110  31,208,169 

Employee share-based compensation

Issue of new shares prior to exchange for 
shares in subsidiary

Reclassification of CPS debt on conversion 
of equity

Re-designation of CPS into ordinary shares

25

22

22

22

–

69,114 

–

–

–

–

258,195 

– 146,948 

–

(144,906)

4,734,378 (144,906)

3,208,268

7,058,186 (10,266,454)

Issue of new shares

Bonus issue of B Shares

Purchase of own shares

Share options exercised

Dividends

22 11,455,256 24,904,784 

22

22

25

9

588,000

 (588,000)

(21,875)

(50,875)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– (729,910)

729,910 

–

–

–

(387,688)

(387,688)

Transactions with owners

15,298,763

31,179,189 

(5,532,076)

2,042

(471,715) 

342,222 40,818,425

Loss for the period

Total comprehensive income for the 
period

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(716,441)

(716,441)

(716,441)

(716,441)

Balance at 31 December 2017

28,233,667 31,276,189 

–

92,042 326,364 11,381,891 71,310,153

The notes form part of these accounts.

3 1

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSC OM PA N Y   S TAT E M E N T   OF   C H A N G E S   I N   E QU I T Y
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Balance at 28 December 2015

6,455,202 

Notes

Share
capital

Share
premium

Convertible
preference
share (“CPS”)

Share-
based
payment
reserve

Retained
earnings

Total

2,094,358   273,400 

5,730,580  14,553,540 

Employee share-based compensation

Issue of convertible preference shares 
treated as equity

Issue of share capital on private placement

25

22

22

–

–

18,500 

97,000 

–

 671,680 

–

–

–

167,774 

Transactions with owners

18,500 

97,000 

671,680 

 167,774 

–

–

–

–

167,774 

671,680 

115,500 

954,954 

–

–

–

Profit for the period

Total comprehensive income for 
the period

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

31,692 

31,692 

31,692 

31,692 

Balance at 25 December 2016

6,473,702 

97,000 

2,766,038 

 441,174 

5,762,272  15,540,186 

Employee share-based compensation

25

–

Issue of new shares in exchange for shares 
in subsidiary

22

 6,530,316 

–

–

5,133,227 

Reclassification of CPS debt on conversion 
of equity

Re-designation of convertible preference 
shares into ordinary shares

22

–

(144,906)

 2,367,189 

19  3,208,268 

7,058,186 

(10,266,454)

–

163,270 

–

163,270 

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 11,663,543 

–

–

 2,222,283 

–

– 36,360,040 

–

–

–

(72,750)

Issue of new shares

Bonus issue of B Shares

Purchase of own shares

Share options exercised

Dividends

22 11,455,256  24,904,784 

588,000 

(588,000)

(21,875)

(50,875)

–

–

–

22

22

25

9

–

–

–

–

– (406,141)

406,141

–

–

–

(194,031)

(194,031)

Transactions with owners

21,759,965  31,179,189 

(2,766,038)

(242,871) 

212,110 50,142,355 

Loss for the period

Total comprehensive income for the 
period

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,248,607)

(1,248,607)

(1,248,607) (1,248,607)

Balance at 31 December 2017

28,233,667 31,276,189

– 198,303

4,725,775 64,433,934

The notes form part of these accounts.

3 2

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017C ON S OL I DAT E D   S TAT E M E N T   OF   C A S H   F L OW S
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Notes

2017
£

2016
£

7

6

5

25

12

12

26

9

6

(716,441)

456,423 

986,560 

726,542 

384,272 

196,680 

971,415 

1,552,367 

1,963,891 

1,528,660 

258,195 

450,000 

(87,590)

(366,233)

1,252,254 

4,197,059 

(150,832)

4,046,227 

310,479 

–

(132,209)

(358,361)

1,287,921 

4,188,857 

21,843 

4,210,700 

(7,610,731)

(10,306,748)

(11,454,000)

(8,800,000)

(19,064,731)

(19,106,748)

34,678,775 

2,447,030 

(13,610,040)

(1,100,000)

(227,092)

(72,750)

 – 

– 

–

 13,560,351 

(600,121)

 (677,021)

20,168,772 

14,230,360 

5,150,268

1,264,586 

6,414,854 

(665,688)

1,930,274 

1,264,586 

Cash flows from operating activities

(Loss)/profit for the period

Taxation

Finance costs

Operating profit

Adjustments for:

Depreciation and amortisation

Share-based payment charge

Impairment

Change in inventories

Change in trade and other receivables

Change in trade and other payables

Cash generated from operations

Tax paid

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of new property sites

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Repayment of borrowings

Dividends paid

Purchase of own shares

Proceeds from new borrowings

Interest paid

Net cash from financing activities

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

The notes form part of these accounts.

3 3

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTSC OM PA N Y   S TAT E M E N T   OF   C A S H   F L OW S
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Cash flows from operating activities

(Loss)/profit for the period

Taxation

Finance costs

Operating (loss)/profit

Adjustments for:

Depreciation 

Share-based payment charge

Change in inventories

Change in trade and other receivables

Change in trade and other payables

Cash (used in)/generated from operations

Tax paid

Notes

2017
£

(1,248,607)

200,093 

500,958 

(547,556)

12

1,173,267 

163,270 

(20,781)

(10,755,427)

1,281,743 

(8,705,484)

(101,323)

2016
£

 31,692 

91,568 

487,296 

610,556 

961,756 

167,774 

(42,206)

(305,099)

298,742 

1,691,523 

21,843 

Net cash (used in)/from operating activities

(8,806,807)

1,713,366 

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of new property sites

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Repayment of borrowings

Dividends paid

Purchase of own shares

Proceeds from new borrowings

Interest paid

Net cash from financing activities

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

The notes form part of these accounts.

12

26

(5,390,676)

(4,065,123)

(8,819,000)

(4,900,000)

(14,209,676)

(8,965,123)

34,613,877 

1,233,265 

(7,456,294)

(1,000,000)

(113,733)

(72,750)

–

(307,738)

26,663,362 

3,646,879 

889,626 

4,536,505 

–

–

7,431,449 

(340,099)

7,324,615 

72,858 

816,768 

889,626 

3 4

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

1 

Company information
The financial statements of The City Pub Group plc (as consolidated “the Group”) for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017 
were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 11 April 2018. The Company is a public limited company 
incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The Company number is 07814568 and the registered office is located at Essel House 
2nd Floor, 29 Foley Street, London, England, W1W 7TH.

The Group’s principal activity is the management and operation of public houses. Information on the Company’s ultimate controlling 
party and other related party relationships is provided in Note 28.

Exemption from audit
For the period ended 31 December 2017 The City Pub Group plc has provided a guarantee in respect of all liabilities due by its 
subsidiary The City Pub (West) Limited (Company No. 07814571) and Flamequire Limited (Company No. 01834157) thus entitling 
them to exemption from audit under section 479A of the Companies Act 2006 relating to subsidiary companies.

Significant accounting policies

2 
2.1  Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on an accruals basis and under the historical cost convention, unless otherwise 
stated. There is no material difference between the fair value of financial assets and liabilities and their carrying amount.

The Company undertook a common control combination during the year prior to listing on AIM. These consolidated financial 
statements have been prepared using the predecessor value method, which is described in 2.4 below.

The financial statements are presented in Great British Pounds and all values are rounded to the nearest pound except when 
otherwise indicated. 

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, no separate income statement is presented in respect of the Parent 
Company.

2.2  Statement of Compliance 

The financial statements of the Company and Group are prepared in accordance with applicable International Financial Reporting 
Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union. 

2.3  New and Revised Standards 

IFRS in issue but not applied in the current financial statements
The following IFRS and IFRIC Interpretations have been issued but have not been applied by the Group in preparing these financial 
statements, as they are not as yet effective. The Group intends to adopt these Standards and Interpretations when they become 
effective, rather than adopt them early.

•  IFRS 9, ‘Financial instruments’, effective date 1 January 2018

•  IFRS 15, ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’, effective date 1 January 2018

•  IFRS 16, ‘Leases’, effective date 1 January 2019

•  Disclosure Initiative: Amendments to IAS 7: Statement of Cash Flows (effective: 1 January 2017)

•  Amendments to IAS 12: Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses (effective: 1 January 2017).

•  IFRIC 22, ‘Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration (effective: 1 January 2018 and not yet endorsed by the EU).

•  “Amendments to IFRS 2 Classification and Measurement of Share Based Payment Transactions”, “Amendments to IAS 40 Investment 

Property and Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2014 -2016 Cycle” (Mandatory in 2018 and not endorsed by the EU) 

•  “Amendments to IFRS 4 Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts” (Endorsed by the EU and 

mandatory in 2018)

•  IFRIC 23 “Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments” (Mandatory in 2019 and not yet endorsed by the EU)

•  “Amendments to IFRS 9: Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation”, “Amendments to IAS 28: Long-term Interests 
in Associates and Joint Ventures”, “Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2015-2017 Cycle” and “Amendments to IAS19 – 
Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement” (Mandatory in 2019 and not yet endorsed by the EU)

•  IFRS 17 “Insurance Contracts” (Mandatory in 2021 and not yet endorsed by the EU)

3 5

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Significant accounting policies continued

2 
2.3  New and Revised Standards continued

The above standards are yet to be subject to a detailed review. IFRS 9 will impact both the measurement and disclosure of financial 
instruments, IFRS 15 is not considered to have a material impact on revenue recognition and related disclosures, given the nature of 
retail pub sales to the public. IFRS 16 will impact the treatment of leases currently treated as operating leases, but beyond this, it is 
not practicable to provide a reasonable estimate of the effect of IFRS 16 until a detailed review has been completed. 

2.4  Predecessor value method

During the period the Company undertook a common control combination, through the issue of new Ordinary Shares, B-Ordinary 
Shares and Convertible Preference Shares in exchange for 100% of the Ordinary Shares, B Ordinary Shares and Convertible 
Preference Shares of The City Pub Company (West) Limited an entity under common control. The Directors considered the 
business combination to be a common control combination, as the combining entities were ultimately controlled by the same 
parties both before and after the combination and the common control was not transitory.

The share capital and convertible preference shares issued to effect the merger (accounted for under the predecessor value 
method) had a nominal value of £6,530,316 and £5,133,227 respectively (representing £6,455,202 in respect of shares as at 
28 December 2015 and £75,144 subsequent to that date; representing £2,094,358 in respect of the equity element of the CPS as 
at 28 December 2015 and £3,038,869 subsequent to that date). This results in enlarged share capital and convertible preference 
share balances for the group of £12,910,404 and £4,188,716 as at 28 December 2015. Replacement share options issued have also 
been accounted for under the predecessor value method.

As a common control combination, the transaction is outside the scope of IFRS 3 (‘Business Combinations’) and the Directors have 
therefore considered the nature of the transaction, which is eligible for Merger Relief under the Companies Act and decided that 
the predecessor value method would be most appropriate for preparing these Group financial statements.

The predecessor value method involves accounting for the assets and liabilities of the acquired business using existing carrying 
values rather than at fair values, as a result no goodwill has arisen on the combination. The comparative period has been restated 
as if the combination had taken place at the beginning of the comparative period, as the Directors consider this to give the user of 
the financial statements the most meaningful information to assess the performance of the Group.

The use of the predecessor value method has given rise to an “other reserve”, which represents the share premium of the subsidiary 
entity on consolidation.

The financial results of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial information from the date that control commences 
until the date that control ceases. The consolidated financial information presents the results of the companies within the same 
group. Intra-group balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising from intra-group transactions, 
are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial information.

2.5  Going concern

The Directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. Cash flow forecasts have been 
produced to June 2019 that indicate the Company has sufficient headroom to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable 
future. The Company has repaid its borrowings with its bankers, Barclays Bank during the year. 

2.6  Revenue

Revenue represents external sales (excluding taxes) of goods and services net of discounts. Revenue is recognised to the extent 
that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue can be reliably measured. Revenue is 
measured at the fair value of the consideration receivable net of trade discounts and VAT. 

Revenue principally consists of drink, food and accommodation sales, which are recognised at the point at which goods and 
services are provided and rental income which is recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term. Revenue for bedroom 
accommodation is recognised at the point the services are rendered. 

2.7  Cost of sales

Costs considered to be directly related to revenue are accounted for as cost of sales. Costs of goods sold are determined on 
the basis of the cost of purchase, adjusted for movements of inventories. Cost of services rendered is recognised at the time 
the revenue is recognised.

2.8  Operating profit

Operating profit is revenue less operating costs. Revenue is as detailed above and as shown in note 4. Operating costs are all costs 
excluding finance costs, costs associated with the disposal of properties and the tax charge.

3 6

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.9  Exceptional items

The Group presents as exceptional items those significant items of income and expense which, because of their size, nature and 
infrequency of the events giving rise to them merit separate presentation to allow Shareholders to understand better the elements 
of financial performance in the period, so as to facilitate comparison with prior periods to assess trends in financial performance 
more readily. These items are primarily pre-opening costs and non-recurring costs, which are not expected to recur. Costs 
associated with the IPO have been recorded within non-recurring costs.

2.10  Finance income and expense

Finance income is recognised as interest accrues (using the effective interest method) on funds invested outside the Group. 
Finance expense includes the cost of borrowing from third parties and recognised on an effective interest rate basis, resulting 
from the financial liability being recognised on an amortised cost basis, including commitment fees. Finance expense also includes 
the accrued dividends on the convertible preference shares (“CPS”). 

2.11  Taxation and deferred taxation

The income tax expense or income for the period is the tax payable on the current period’s taxable income. This is based on 
the national income tax rate enacted or substantively enacted with any adjustment relating to tax payable in previous years and 
changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities 
and their carrying amounts in the Financial Statements.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised for temporary differences at the tax rates expected to be applicable when the 
asset or liability crystallises based on current tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting 
date. The relevant tax rates are applied to the cumulative amounts of deductible and taxable temporary differences to measure the 
deferred tax asset or liability. 

A deferred tax asset is regarded as recoverable and therefore recognised only when, on the basis of all available evidence, it can 
be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits against which to recover carried forward tax losses 
and from which the future reversal of temporary differences can be deducted. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets are 
reviewed at each reporting date.

2.12  Financial instruments

Recognition, initial measurement and derecognition
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the 
financial instrument and are measured initially at fair value adjusted for transaction costs. Subsequent measurement of financial 
assets and financial liabilities is described below.

Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or when the financial 
asset and substantially all the risks and rewards are transferred. A financial liability is derecognised when it is extinguished, discharged, 
cancelled or expires.

Classification and subsequent measurement of financial assets
For the purpose of subsequent measurement financial assets are classified into the following categories upon initial recognition:

Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active 
market. After initial recognition, these are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for 
impairment. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents, trade 
and most other receivables fall into this category of financial instruments.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables do not carry any interest and are recognised at their original invoiced amounts, less an allowance 
for any amounts that are not considered collectible. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of an allowance 
account, and the amount of the loss is recognised in the profit or loss within ‘cost of sales’. When a trade or other receivable is 
uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account for trade and other receivables. Subsequent recoveries of amounts 
previously written off are credited against ‘cost of sales’ in the profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and in hand and other short term highly liquid deposits with original maturities 
of three months or less.

3 7

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Significant accounting policies continued

2 
2.12  Financial instruments continued

Classification and subsequent measurement of financial liabilities
The Group’s financial liabilities include trade and certain other payables. Financial liabilities are measured subsequently 
at amortised cost using the effective interest rate.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method. These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial 
period, which are unpaid.

Borrowings
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised 
cost; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in profit or loss over 
the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method.

Classification of Shares as Debt or Equity

  When shares are issued, any component that creates a financial liability of the Group is presented as a liability in the statement 
of financial position; measured initially at fair value net of transaction costs and thereafter at amortised cost until extinguished 
on conversion or redemption. The corresponding dividends relating to the liability component are charged as interest expense 
in the Income Statement. The initial fair value of the liability component is determined using a market rate for an equivalent liability 
without a conversion feature.

The remainder of the proceeds on issue is allocated to the equity component and included in shareholders’ equity, net of 
transaction costs.

The carrying amount of the equity component is not remeasured in subsequent years. The Group’s ordinary shares are classified 
as equity instruments. For the purposes of the disclosures given in note 22, the Group considers its capital to comprise its ordinary 
share capital, share premium and accumulated retained earnings plus its preference shares which are classified as a financial liability 
in the statement of financial position. There have been no changes to what the Group considers to be capital since the prior year.

Convertible Preference Shares
The Group’s convertible preference shares are reported under equity and non-current liabilities, as apportioned on recognition. 
The corresponding dividends on preference shares are charged as interest in the Income Statement, with any accrued interest 
recorded as a current liability. Preference shares carry interest at fixed rates. On conversion the equity and non-current liabilities 
are extinguished in exchange for ordinary shares, with the initial costs of raising the capital incurred on issue being off-set against 
the share premium. The preference shares have all been converted in the current period.

Share repurchases

  Where shares are repurchased wholly out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that purpose, no amount needs 

to be transferred to a capital redemption reserve as there is no reduction in capital as a result of the purchase and issue of shares. 

2.13  Business combinations and goodwill

Other than the group reorganisation that took place prior to Listing, business combinations, which include sites that are operating 
as a going concern at acquisition, are accounted for under IFRS 3 using the purchase method. Any excess of the consideration 
of the business combination over the interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities 
is recognised in the statement of financial position as goodwill and is not amortised. To the extent that the net fair value of the 
acquired entity’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities is greater than the cost of the investment, a gain is 
recognised immediately in the profit or loss.

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from a business combination that are not individually identified and 
separately recognised. Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Refer to Note 11 for a description of 
impairment testing procedures.

3 8

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.14  Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment, other than freehold land, are stated at cost or deemed cost less accumulated depreciation and 
any impairment in value. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each 
asset over its expected useful life, with effect from the first full year of ownership, as follows:

Freehold properties  
Leasehold properties 
Fixtures, fittings and equipment 
Computer equipment 

To residual value over fifty years straight line
Straight line over the length of the lease
Between four and ten years straight line
Between two and five years straight line

No depreciation is charged on freehold land. Where there is no depreciation on historic freehold buildings as a result of a high 
residual value/long useful lives, the freehold building is subject to an impairment review. Residual values and useful lives are 
reviewed every year and adjusted if appropriate at each financial period end.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than 
its estimated recoverable amount. Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with carrying amount. 
These are included in the profit or loss. 

2.15  Investments in subsidiaries

The Company recognises its investments in subsidiaries at cost, less any provisions for impairment. Income is recognised from 
these investments only in relation to distributions received from post-acquisition profits. Distributions received in excess of 
post-acquisition profits are deducted from the cost of the investment.

2.16  Impairment of goodwill, property, plant and equipment and investments in subsidiaries

For impairment assessment purposes, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are largely independent cash inflows 
(cash-generating units). As a result, some assets are tested individually for impairment and some are tested at cash-generating unit 
level. Goodwill is allocated to those cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from synergies of a related business 
combination and represent the lowest level within the Group at which management monitors goodwill.

Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated (determined by the Group’s management as equivalent to its operating 
segments) are tested for impairment at least annually. All other individual assets or cash-generating units are tested for impairment 
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s (or cash-generating unit’s) carrying amount exceeds its 
recoverable amount, which is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use. To determine the value-in-use, 
management estimates expected future cash flows from each cash-generating unit and determines a suitable discount rate in 
order to calculate the present value of those cash flows. The data used for impairment testing procedures are directly linked to the 
Group’s latest approved budget, adjusted as necessary to exclude the effects of future reorganisations and asset enhancements. 
Discount factors are determined individually for each cash-generating unit and reflect current market assessments of the time 
value of money and asset-specific risk factors.

Impairment losses for cash-generating units reduce first the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to that cash-generating unit. 
Any remaining impairment loss is charged pro rata to the other assets in the cash-generating unit. With the exception of goodwill, all 
assets are subsequently reassessed for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist. An 
impairment loss is reversed if the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount.

2.17  Inventories

Inventories are counted independently and stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is calculated using the 
First In First Out method. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated 
costs of completion and the estimated costs to sell.

2.18  Leasing

Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are not transferred to the Group as lessee are classified 
as operating leases. These are the only types of lease utilised by the entity. Operating lease payments for assets leased from third 
parties are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the period of the lease, on an accrued basis.

3 9

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

Significant accounting policies continued

2 
2.19  Share-based employee remuneration

The Company operates equity-settled share-based remuneration plans for its employees. None of the Company’s plans are 
cash-settled.

All goods and services received in exchange for the grant of any share-based payment are measured at their fair values.

  Where employees are rewarded using share-based payments, the fair value of employees’ services is determined indirectly by 

reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted. This fair value is appraised at the grant date and excludes the impact 
of non-market vesting conditions (for example profitability and sales growth targets and performance conditions). The fair value is 
determined by using the Black-Scholes method.

All share-based remuneration is ultimately recognised as an expense in profit or loss with a corresponding credit to share based 
payments reserve. If vesting periods or other vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the vesting period, based on 
the best available estimate of the number of share options expected to vest.

Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to become exercisable. 
Estimates are subsequently revised if there is any indication that the number of share options expected to vest differs from previous 
estimates. Any adjustment to cumulative share-based compensation resulting from a revision is recognised in the current period. 
The number of vested options ultimately exercised by holders does not impact the expense recorded in any period.

Upon exercise of share options, the proceeds received, net of any directly attributable transaction costs, are allocated to share 
capital up to the nominal (or par) value of the shares issued with any excess being recorded as share premium.

3 

Significant estimates and judgements
The judgements, estimates and assumptions, which are considered to be significant, are as follows:

The selection of the predecessor value method, rather than the acquisition method, for accounting for the common control 
combination was a significant judgement for the directors. The predecessor value method was considered to better reflect the nature 
of the common control combination, which met the requirements for Merger Relief under the Companies Act 2006, and is considered 
to give users of the financial statements better comparability for assessing the performance of the combined businesses.

The Group determines whether goodwill is impaired on an annual basis and this requires an estimation of the value in use of the 
cash-generating units to which the goodwill is allocated. This involves estimation of future cash flows and choosing a suitable 
discount rate. Full details are supplied in note 11, together with an analysis of the key assumptions.

The assessment of fair values for the assets and liabilities recognised in the financial statements on the acquisition of a business 
and additional consideration, and the date that control is obtained, require significant judgement and estimate. Management assess 
fair values, particularly for property, plant and equipment, with reference to current market prices. See note 26 for business 
combinations and property purchases made in the year.

4 0

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 

Segmental analysis
The Group focuses its internal management reporting predominantly on revenue, adjusted EBITDA (being earnings before 
exceptional items, share option charge, interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation) and operating profit.

The Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) receives information on each pub and each pub is considered to be an individual 
operating segment. In line with IFRS 8, each operating segment has the same characteristics and therefore the pubs are 
aggregated to form the reportable segment below.

Revenue, and all the Group’s activities, arise wholly from the sale of goods and services within the United Kingdom. All the Group’s 
non-current assets are located in the United Kingdom.

Revenue arises wholly from the sale of goods and services within the United Kingdom.

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Operating expenses:

•  operating expenses before adjusting items

Adjusted EBITDA

•  Depreciation and amortisation

•  Share option charge

•  exceptional items

Total operating expenses

Operating profit

5 

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation
The (loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation is stated after charging/(crediting):

Costs of inventories recognised as an expense

Staff costs (note 23)

Depreciation

Fees payable to the company’s auditor for the audit of the company’s financial statements

Fees payable to the company’s auditor for the audit of the group financial statement

Tax compliance

Tax advisory services

Corporate finance services

Exceptional costs (note 8)

Operating leases – land and buildings

2017
£

37,403,515 

(9,657,731)

2016
£

27,762,513 

(7,529,656)

27,745,784 

20,232,857 

(21,596,513)

(16,150,166)

6,149,271 

4,082,691 

(1,963,891)

(1,528,660)

(258,195)

(3,200,643)

(310,479)

(691,185)

(27,019,242)

 (18,680,490)

726,542 

1,552,367 

2017
£

2016
£

10,412,084 

7,963,682 

14,003,402 

10,848,862 

1,963,891 

1,528,660 

52,500 

10,000

15,661

56,948

 185,988

3,200,643 

 1,256,182 

65,000 

–

 10,225 

 27,302 

–

 691,185 

 962,350 

4 1

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

6 

Interest payable and similar charges

On bank loans and overdrafts

On CPS and other loans

Accrued dividend on CPS

During the period, no interest was capitalised; (2016: £nil). 

The accrued dividend on the CPS was paid in January 2018.

7 

Tax charge on (loss)/profit on ordinary activities
(a)  Analysis of tax charge for the period

The tax charge for the Group is based on the profit for the period and represents:

Current income tax:

Current income tax charge

Adjustments in respect of previous period

Total current income tax

Deferred tax:

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Adjustments in respect of deferred tax of previous period

Change in corporation tax rate

Total deferred tax

Total tax

2017
£

417,952 

323,901 

244,707 

986,560 

2016
£

380,067 

296,952 

294,396 

971,415 

2017
£

335,014

44,114

379,128

85,229

(7,934)

–

77,295

456,423

2016
£

 35,498 

(21,843)

 13,655 

 192,364 

 (400)

 (8,939)

 183,025 

 196,680 

(b)  Factors affecting total tax for the period

 The tax assessed for the period differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom 19.25% (2016: 20.00%). 
The differences are explained as follows:

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax

2017
£

2016
£

(260,018)

 580,952 

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the 
United Kingdom of 19.25% (2016: 20.0%)

 (50,054)

116,190 

Effect of:

Fixed asset differences

Items not deductible for tax purposes

Adjustment in respect of previous periods

Adjustment in respect of previous periods – deferred tax

Share options tax deduction

Change in corporation tax rate

Total tax charge

53,187 

598,830 

44,114 

(7,934)

(181,720)

–

456,423 

(26,732)

184,754 

(21,843)

(400)

–

(55,289)

196,680 

4 2

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8 

Exceptional items

Pre opening costs

Impairment of a pub site

Other non recurring items

2017
£

852,718

450,000

1,897,925

3,200,643

2016
£

574,688 

–

116,497 

691,185 

Other non-recurring items include IPO costs expensed totalling £1,841,190 for the period ended 31 December 2017.

9  Dividends 

Dividends paid during the reporting period
The Board declared its maiden dividend of 1.5p per share 50p Ordinary share for shareholders on the share register as at 31 May 2017, 
which was approved at the Annual General Meeting and paid on 30 June 2017. The dividend per share was the same for The City 
Pub Company (West) Limited and in total the dividend was £387,688.

Dividends not recognised at the end of the reporting period
Since the year end, the Directors have proposed the payment of a dividend in respect of the full financial year of 2.25p per fully paid 
Ordinary share (2016: 1.5p). The aggregate amount of the proposed dividend expected to be paid out of retained earnings at 2 July 
2018, but not recognised as a liability at the year end, is £1,270,515 (2016: £387,688).

10  Earnings per share

(Loss)/earnings for the period attributable to Shareholders

(Loss)/earnings per share:

Basic (loss)/earnings per share (p)

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (p)

Weighted average number of shares:

Weighted average shares for basic EPS

Effect of share options in issue

Weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share

2017
£

2016
£

(716,441)

384,272

(2.45)

(2.45)

1.49 

1.44 

Number of shares

Number of shares

 29,189,803 

 25,820,809 

n/a

 n/a 

886,428 

 26,707,237 

4 3

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

11  Goodwill

Cost brought forward

Additions

At end of period

Amortisation/impairment brought forward

Provided during the period

Disposal

At end of period

Group
2017
£

1,359,713 

1,164,968 

2,524,681 

–

–

–

–

Group
2016
£

1,359,713 

–

Company
2017
£

407,758 

694,537 

Company
2016
£

407,758 

–

1,359,713 

1,102,295 

407,758 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Net book value at end of period

Net book value at start of period

2,524,681 

1,359,713 

1,359,713 

1,359,713 

1,102,295 

407,758 

407,758 

407,758 

The carrying value of goodwill included within the Group statement of financial position is £2,524,681 (Company: £1,102,295), which 
is allocated to the cash-generating unit (“CGU”) of groupings of public houses as follows:

Freehold

Leasehold

Group
2017
£

2,072,198 

452,483 

2,524,681 

Group
2016
£

1,037,231 

322,482 

1,359,713 

Company
2017
£

704,262 

398,033 

1,102,295 

Company
2016
£

139,726 

268,032 

407,758 

The CGU’s recoverable amount has been determined as the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and value in use based on an 
internal discounted cash flow evaluation. 

The fair value less costs to sell is calculated based on the market value of the associated property and the discounted operating 
cash flows based on management’s forecasts.

For the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017, the cash-generating unit recoverable amount was determined based on 
value-in-use calculations, using cash flow projections based on one year budgets, extrapolated into perpetuity for freehold 
properties and for the length of the lease for leasehold properties (with key assumptions for both CGU’s being the long-term 
growth rate of 2% and pre-tax discount rate of 10%). Cash flows for the businesses are based on management forecasts, which 
are approved by the Board and reflect management’s expectations of sales growth, operating costs and margin based on past 
experience and anticipated changes in the local market places. 

Sensitivity to changes in key assumptions: impairment testing is dependent on management’s estimates and judgements, 
in particular in relation to the forecasting of future cash flows, the long-term growth rate and the discount rate applied to the 
cash flows. 

The calculations show that a reasonably possible change, as assessed by the directors, would not cause the carrying amount 
of the CGU to exceed its recoverable amount.

4 4

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
12  Property, plant and equipment

Group

Cost

At 28 December 2015

Additions

Acquisitions

At 25 December 2016

Additions

Acquisitions (Note 26)

At 31 December 2017

Depreciation

At 28 December 2015

Provided during the period 

Reclassification

At 25 December 2016

Provided during the period 

Impairment

At 31 December 2017

Net book value

At 31 December 2017

At 25 December 2016

At 28 December 2015

Freehold & 
leasehold property
£

Fixtures, fittings 
and computers
£

Total
£

28,302,765 

 8,085,317 

 36,388,082 

 6,521,782 

 3,782,292 

 10,304,074 

 8,800,000 

–

 8,800,000 

43,624,547 

11,867,609 

 55,492,156 

 4,654,086 

11,309,465 

 2,956,645 

 7,610,731 

 1,014,998 

 12,324,463 

59,588,098 

15,839,252 

 75,427,350 

 1,052,447 

 2,484,933 

 205,275 

 (338,937)

 918,785 

 276,296 

237,000

1,323,385 

 338,937 

 3,537,380 

 1,528,660 

–

 4,147,255 

 5,066,040 

1,687,595 

 1,963,891 

213,000

450,000 

 1,432,081 

 6,047,850 

 7,479,931 

58,156,017 

42,705,762 

9,791,402 

 67,947,419 

 7,720,354 

 50,426,116 

27,250,318 

 5,600,384 

 32,850,702 

During the period ended 31 December 2017 the group has made a provision for impairment against a Pub Site in Bristol, due to poor 
performance and it has been reduced to its fair value less costs to sell. The fair value less costs to sell represents a Level 3 fair value 
measurement, with the asset being held at its recoverable amount of £200,000.

4 5

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

12  Property, plant and equipment continued

Company

Cost

At 28 December 2015

Additions

Acquisitions 

At 25 December 2016

Additions

Acquisitions (Note 26)

At 31 December 2017

Depreciation

At 28 December 2015

Provided during the period 

At 25 December 2016

Provided during the period 

At 31 December 2017

Net book value

At 31 December 2017

At 25 December 2016

At 28 December 2015

13 

Investments in subsidiaries

Company

At start of period

Additions

At 31 December 2017

Freehold & 
leasehold property
£

Fixtures, fittings 
and computers
£

Total
£

13,602,321 

6,029,808 

19,632,129 

2,747,939 

4,900,000 

1,317,184 

–

4,065,123 

4,900,000 

21,250,260 

7,346,992 

28,597,252 

3,351,534 

8,209,465 

2,039,142 

1,014,998 

5,390,676 

9,224,463 

32,811,259 

10,401,132 

43,212,391 

351,662 

120,949 

472,611 

183,979 

656,590 

1,880,508 

840,807 

2,721,315 

989,288 

3,710,603 

2,232,170 

961,756 

3,193,926 

1,173,267 

4,367,193 

32,154,669 

6,690,529 

38,845,198 

20,777,649 

13,250,659 

4,625,677 

4,149,300 

25,403,326 

17,399,959 

2017
£

250,153

11,663,543

11,913,696

2016
£

250,153

–

250,153

During the year the Company entered into a Scheme of Arrangement to acquire 100% of the Ordinary Shares, 100% of the Ordinary 
B Shares and 100% of the Convertible Preference Shares of The City Pub Company (West) Limited in exchange for the issue of the 
same number and type of new shares by the Company, see note 22 for further information.

4 6

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
The Company had the following subsidiary undertakings as at 31 December 2017:

Name of subsidiary

Class of
 share held

Country of
incorporation

Proportion
held

Nature of 
business

The City Pub Company (West) Limited 

Ordinary

England and Wales

The Fat Pheasant Pub Company Limited

Ordinary

England and Wales

Ace High Enterprises Limited

Ordinary

England and Wales

Flamequire Limited*

Ordinary

England and Wales

Inn on the Beach Limited*

Ordinary

England and Wales

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Management and operation 
of public houses

Dormant

Dormant

Dormant

Dormant

The above companies all had the same registered office as the parent company, being Essel House, 2nd Floor, 29 Foley Street, 
London, W1W 7TH.

*  These companies are held indirectly through the Company’s 100% subsidiary The City Pub Company (West) Limited.

14 

Inventories

Finished goods and goods for resale

553,909 

466,319 

Group
2017
£

Group
2016
£

Company
2017
£

287,607 

Company
2017
£

 66,483 

 230,261 

Group
2016
£

 106,057 

 406,160 

–

 10,687,384 

 670,725 

 585,776 

 1,182,942 

11,569,904 

Company
2016
£

266,826 

Company
2016
£

 31,471 

 350,631 

–

 411,618 

 793,720 

Group
2016
£

Company
2017
£

Company
2016
£

2,541,494 

1,244,213 

1,040,107 

35,498 

914,719 

–

918,607 

222,801 

116,637 

680,191 

250,153 

839,156 

260,198 

14,774 

387,654 

250,153 

532,028 

142,383 

4,633,119 

3,390,548 

2,367,099 

15  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Amounts due from group undertakings

Prepayments and accrued income

16  Current trade and other payables

Trade payables

Corporation taxation

Other taxation and social security

Amounts due to group undertakings

Accruals

Other payables (note 17)

Group
2017
£

 133,520 

 510,946 

–

 1,008,422 

 1,652,888 

Group
2017
£

2,216,492 

367,506 

1,563,842 

–

1,441,726 

557,502 

6,147,068 

4 7

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

17  Non-current other payables

Trail commissions

Deferred consideration

Group
2017
£

–

310,000 

310,000 

Group
2016
£

24,978 

–

24,978 

Company
2017
£

–

–

–

Company
2016
£

12,489 

–

12,489 

Deferred consideration has arisen in relation to the acquisition of the Old Fire House, see note 26, with the £155,000 due within one 
year included within other payables.

18  Borrowings and financial liabilities

Current borrowings and financial liabilities:

CPS dividend payable

Non-current borrowings and financial liabilities:

Bank loans

Debt element of the CPS

Group
2017
£

244,707 

244,707 

–

–

–

Group
2016
£

294,396 

 294,396 

13,560,351 

4,444,566 

18,004,917 

Company
2017
£

122,354 

122,354 

–

–

–

Company
2016
£

147,198 

147,198 

7,431,449 

2,222,283 

9,653,732 

At 31 December 2017 a bank loan of £nil (2016: £13,700,000) was outstanding, as the loans were repaid during the year. In 2016 
Barclays Bank PLC had a fixed charge over certain freehold property as security in respect of this loan. Interest was charged at 
LIBOR plus a margin, which varied dependent on the ratio of net debt to EBITDA. The loan was repayable in June 2021. More details 
of the terms of the Convertible Preference Shares are disclosed in note 22.

The accrued dividend on the CPS was paid in January 2018.

19  Financial instruments and risk management

Financial instruments by category:

Group
2017
£

Group
2016
£

Company
2017
£

Company
2016
£

Financial assets – loans and receivables

Trade and other receivables

644,466 

512,217 

296,744 

382,102 

Amounts due from group undertakings

Cash and cash equivalents

–

6,414,854 

7,059,320 

–

10,687,384 

1,264,586 

1,776,803 

4,536,505 

15,520,633 

–

889,626 

1,271,728 

Prepayments are excluded, as this analysis is required only for financial instruments.

4 8

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities – held at amortised cost

Non-current

Borrowings

Other payables

Current

Current borrowings

Trade and other payables

Amounts due to group undertakings

Group
2017
£

Group
2016
£

Company
2017
£

–

18,004,917 

 310,000 

 310,000 

24,978 

18,029,895 

–

–

–

244,707 

2,773,994 

–

294,396 

2,764,295 

–

122,354 

1,504,411 

250,153 

3,018,701 

3,058,691 

1,876,918 

Company
2016
£

9,653,732 

 12,489 

9,666,221 

147,198 

1,182,490 

250,153 

1,579,841 

Statutory liabilities and deferred income are excluded from the trade payables balance, as this analysis is required only for financial 
instruments.

There is no material difference between the book value and the fair value of the financial assets and financial liabilities disclosed 
above.

The Group’s operations expose it to financial risks that include market risk and liquidity risk. The Directors review and agree policies 
for managing each of these risks and they are summarised below. These policies have remained unchanged from previous periods.

Cash at bank and short-term deposits

A1

Not rated

Group
2017
£

Group
2016
£

Company
2017
£

6,336,686 

1,203,698 

4,495,940 

78,168 

60,888 

40,565 

6,414,854 

1,264,586 

4,536,505 

Company
2016
£

857,710 

31,916 

889,626 

A1 rating means that the risk of default for the investors and the policy holder is deemed to be very low.  
Not rated balances relate to petty cash amounts.

Market risk – cash flow interest rate risk
The Group had no outstanding borrowing at year end as disclosed in note 18. These were loans taken out with Barclays to facilitate 
the purchase of additional public houses.

The Group’s policy is to minimise interest rate cash flow risk exposures on long-term financing. Longer-term borrowings are 
therefore usually at fixed rates. At 31 December 2017, the Group is exposed to changes in market interest rates through bank 
borrowings at variable interest rates. Other borrowings are at fixed interest rates. The exposure to interest rates for the Group’s 
cash at bank and short-term deposits is considered immaterial.

Credit risk
The risk of financial loss due to a counter party’s failure to honour its obligations arises principally in relation to transactions where 
the Group provides goods and services on deferred payment terms and deposits surplus cash.

Group policies are aimed at minimising losses and deferred terms are only granted to customers who demonstrate an appropriate 
payment history and satisfy credit worthiness procedures. Individual customers are subject to credit limits to control debt exposure. 
Credit insurance is taken out where appropriate for wholesale customers and goods may also be sold on a cash with order basis.

Cash deposits with financial institutions for short periods are only permitted with financial institutions approved by the Board. 
There are no significant concentrations of credit risk within the Group. The maximum credit risk exposure relating to financial assets 
is represented by their carrying value as at the financial period end. 

4 9

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

19  Financial instruments and risk management continued

Liquidity risk
The Group actively maintains cash and banking facilities that are designed to ensure it has sufficient available funds for operations 
and planned expansions. The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the 
remaining period at the period end date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual 
undiscounted cash flows.

Group

As at 31 December 2017:

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

As at 25 December 2016:

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Company

As at 31 December 2017:

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

As at 25 December 2016:

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Less than 
1 year
£

Between 1 
and 2 years
£

Between 2 
and 5 years
£

Over 5 years
£

244,707 

2,773,994 

–

310,000 

–

–

–

–

 294,396 

2,764,295 

Less than 
1 year
£

122,354 

1,754,564 

147,198 

1,432,643 

–

13,560,351 

4,444,566 

24,978 

–

–

Between 1 
and 2 years
£

Between 2 
and 5 years
£

Over 5 years
£

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,431,449 

2,222,283 

12,489 

–

–

Capital risk management
The Group manages its capital to ensure it will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the return to shareholders 
through optimising the debt and equity balance. 

The Group monitors cash balances and prepare regular forecasts, which are reviewed by the board. In order to maintain or adjust 
the capital structure, the Group may, in the future, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

20  Fair value measurements of financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value are required to be grouped into three Levels of a fair value hierarchy. 
The three Levels are defined based on the observability of significant inputs to the measurement, as follows:

•  Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

•  Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or 

indirectly; and

•  Level 3: unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

There were no financial asset or liabilities measured at fair value as at 29 December 2015, 25 December 2016 or 31 December 2017.

5 0

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21  Deferred tax

Provision for deferred tax

Accelerated capital allowances

Arising on acquisition

Provision at the start of the period

Arising on acquisition

Deferred tax charge for the period

Provision at 25 December 2017

22  Share capital

Allotted called up and fully paid

Group
2017
£

611,392 

470,431 

Group
2016
£

Company
2017
£

Company
2016
£

534,097 

308,369 

290,705 

–

–

–

1,081,823 

534,097 

308,369 

290,705 

534,097 

470,431

77,295 

1,081,823 

351,072 

290,705 

192,068 

–

183,025 

534,097 

–

17,664 

308,369 

–

98,637 

290,705 

2017
£

2016
£

56,467,333 Ordinary shares of 50 pence each: (2016: 25,845,809)

28,233,667

12,922,904 

Nil Ordinary B shares of 1 pence each: (2016: 1,200,000)

Nil CPS of 50 pence each: (2016: 20,532,906)

–

–

12,000

 10,266,453 

The prior period share capital is equal to the enlarged share capital, in accordance with accounting for the common control 
combination using the predecessor value method.

During the period from the beginning of the year to 25 October 2017 the Company issued 156,977 ordinary shares of £0.50 at 
£1.60 per share, with the premium credited to the share premium account. During which time The City Pub Company (West) Limited 
issued 138,227 Ordinary shares of £0.50 each at £1.60 per share net of trail commissions of £5,102. The Company then purchased 
back 12,500 shares for £1.82 and 31,250 shares for £1.60, in order to ensure that the issued share capital of the Company matched 
that of The City Pub Company (West) Limited, which was a company under common control.

As at 1 November 2017 the Company then entered into a Scheme of Arrangement whereby it issued: 13,048,632 new Ordinary shares 
of £0.50 each; 600,000 new Ordinary B Shares of £0.01 each and 10,266,453 convertible preference shares of £0.50 each, all issued 
at their nominal value with no premium, in exchange for ownership of the same number and profile of shares in The City Pub 
Company (West) Limited. This resulted in the Company owning 100% of the Ordinary shares, Ordinary B shares and CPS of 
The City Pub Company (West) Limited.

5 1

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

22  Share capital continued

On 7 November 2017 the Company issued 644,123 new Ordinary shares of £0.50 each at a price of £1.5525 per share, with the 
premium credited to the share premium account, as part of the consideration of the acquisition of Aragon House – see note 26.

As part of the Listing on 23 November 2017 the following share transactions occurred:

•  291,176 Ordinary shares of £0.50 were issued at a price of £1.70 per share to certain Directors in lieu of bonuses, with the premium 

credited to the share premium account.

•  A bonus issue of 58,800,000 new Ordinary B shares were issued to the existing holders of the Ordinary B shares, with the debit 

made to the share premium account.

•  1,230,000 Ordinary shares of £0.50 were issued at their exercise prices ranging from £0.50 to £1.20 – resulting in a premium of 

£539,000 being credited to the share premium account.

•  The 60,000,000 Ordinary B shares of £0.01 were then divided into 1,200,000 Ordinary B shares of £0.50 per share and 

re-designated as Ordinary Shares of £0.50.

•  The Company re-designated 20,532,906 preference shares of £0.50 each fully paid in the capital of the Company into 6,416,534 
ordinary shares of £0.50 each and 705,818,600 Deferred Shares of £0.01 each on the basis of 1 ordinary share of £0.50 each with 
the balance remaining into deferred shares of £0.01 each for every 3.2 preference shares of £0.50 each held.

•  The Company purchased the 705,818,600 deferred shares of £0.01 each arising on the redesignation of the preference shares 

referred to above for an aggregate consideration of £0.01.

•  20,588,236 new Ordinary shares of £0.50 per share were issued as part of the IPO at a price of £1.70 per share. The premium, 

less the share issue costs totalling £1,540,124, was credited to the share premium account.

Share capital, net of issue costs has been split between equity and debt as follows:

Equity Shares

Ordinary shares of 50 pence each

Ordinary B shares of 1 pence each

Total share capital

Convertible preference shares

Shares classified as financial liabilities

Debt element of CPS

2017
£

2016
£

28,233,667 

12,922,904 

–

12,000 

28,233,667 

12,934,904 

–

–

5,532,076 

 4,444,566 

The ordinary shareholders are entitled to be paid a dividend out of any surplus profits and to participate in surplus assets on 
winding up in proportion to the nominal value of each class of share. All equity shares in the Company carry one vote per share.

The B Ordinary shareholders were not entitled to any rights in relation to any dividend, but were entitled to vote upon any resolution 
at general meetings.

5 2

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

The ordinary share capital account represents the amount subscribed for shares at nominal value.

Ordinary shares
Number

Ordinary B shares
Number

Convertible
preference shares
Number

At 28 December 2015

Issue of share capital – CPS 

Issue of share capital – Ordinary B shares

25,820,809 

–

–

–

–

15,846,906 

4,686,000 

 1,200,000 

Issue of share capital – share options exercised 

25,000 

–

At 25 December 2016

25,845,809 

1,200,000 

20,532,906 

Issue of new ordinary shares prior to scheme of arrangement

Purchase of ordinary shares prior to scheme of arrangement

Issue of new ordinary shares as part of consideration for Aragon House

Issue of new ordinary shares in lieu of Directors’ bonuses

295,205

(43,750)

644,123

291,176

Issue of new ordinary shares on conditional exercise of share options

1,230,000

–

–

–

–

–

Net impact of bonus issue of 58,800,000 £0.01 ordinary B shares, 
followed by subdivision to £0.50 shares and re-designation to 
ordinary shares 

Net impact of re-designation of 6,416,534 CPS as Ordinary Shares and 
subdivision of remaining 14,116,372 CPS into 705,818,600 £0.01 deferred 
shares and subsequent buy back of the deferred £0.01 shares

Issue of new ordinary shares on IPO

At 31 December 2017 

1,200,000

(1,200,000)

6,416,534

20,588,236

 56,467,333 

–

–

–

(20,532,906)

–

–

Nature and purpose of reserves
The share premium account represents premiums received on the initial issuing of the share capital. Any transaction costs 
associated with the issuing of shares are deducted from share premium, net of any related income tax benefits.

Convertible Preference Shares represents the element of the financial instruments treated as equity.

The other reserve has arisen from using the predecessor value method to combine the results of the Company and its subsidiary 
The City Pub Company (West) Limited, which was acquired through a share for share exchange as part of the reorganisation of two 
entities under common control prior to the Company’s Listing on AIM. The reserve represents the share premium that exists within 
The City Pub Company (West) Limited.

Share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the grant date fair value of options issued to employees but not exercised.

Retained earnings include all results as disclosed in the statement of comprehensive income.

5 3

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

23  Staff costs

Number of employees
The average monthly numbers of employees (including salaried Directors) during the period was:

Management and Administration

Operation of Public Houses

Employment costs (including Directors)

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Share options

2017

61

462

523

2017
£

2016

48

344

392

2016
£

12,882,845 

9,853,586 

862,362 

258,195 

684,797 

310,479 

14,003,402 

10,848,862

24  Directors’ remuneration

Single total figure of remuneration table
The following table shows a breakdown of the remuneration of individual Directors who served in all or part of the year:

Salary/Fees

Annual Bonus

IPO Bonus**

Taxable Benefits

Other*/Pension

Total

Clive Watson

Alex Derrick

Rupert Clark

Tarquin Williams

David Bruce

John Roberts

James Watson

Richard Prickett

2017
£000

101

101

101

86

43

28

17

8

2016
£000

95

95

95

80

42

27

23

–

2017
£000

136

147

155

71

41

30

–

–

2016
£000

103

92

113

21

35

35

7

–

2017
£000

254

180

240

128

56

42

–

–

Total

485

457

580

406

900

2016
£000

2017
£000

2016
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3

5

4

2

–

–

–

–

14

3

–

1

1

–

–

–

–

5

2017
£000

271

209

209

1

–

41

–

–

2016
£000

2017
£000

2016
£000

–

–

–

–

–

41

–

–

765

642

709

288

140

141

17

8

201

187

209

102

77

103

30

–

731

41

2,710

909

** The IPO bonus was paid out 45% in cash and 55% in shares at the time of the IPO at the placing price of £1.70.

*  Other includes the gain on the exercise of the EMI share options at the time of the IPO.

Emoluments in respect of the Directors are as follows:

Remuneration for qualifying services

2017
£

2016
£

2,710,080

909,675 

The highest paid Director in the period received remuneration of £765,414; (2016: £208,792). Four directors had equity settled share 
options in issue at the period end (2016: Four). Additional information on Directors’ remuneration is given within the Corporate 
Governance Report on page 19.

5 4

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25  Share-based payments

The Group operates an equity settled share option plan known as the Enterprise Management Incentive Share Option Plan. The 
Group is required to reflect the effects of share-based payment transactions in profit or loss and in its statement of financial position. 
For the purposes of calculating the fair value of share options granted, the Black Scholes Pricing Model has been used by the Group. 
Fair values have been calculated on the date of grant. A key input into the model is the share price, on the date of grant of the options. 
The share price has been estimated based on the most recent subscription for shares.

There were no new share options granted in 2017. A charge of £258,195 (2016: £310,479) has been reflected in the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income. A transfer has been made between the share based payment reserve and the retained 
earnings in respect of the EMI share options that have been exercised during the year.

There were no options granted in 2017. The fair value of options granted in the prior year and the assumptions used in the 
calculation are shown below:

Year of grant

Exercise price (£)

Number of options granted

Vesting period (years)

Option life (years) 

Risk free rate

Volatility

Fair value (£)

During the period no options were granted as summarised in the table below:

Outstanding at start of period

Granted

Exercised

Expired 

Outstanding at 31 December 2017

2017
Number of
 Options

2,447,500

–

(1,230,000)

(175,000)

1,042,500

2017
Weighted
 average
 exercise
 price
£

0.97

–

0.95

0.99

1.00

2016
Number of
 Options

2,555,000

–

(25,000)

(82,500)

2,447,500

Exercisable at 31 December 2017

–

–

760,000

2016

1.00 

1,230,000

3

10

4%

50%

0.75

2016
Weighted
 average
 exercise
 price
£

0.98

–

0.78

1.01

0.97

0.78

5 5

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
N O T E S   T O   T H E   F I N A N C I A L   S TAT E M E N T S   C ON T ’ D
for the 53 week period ended 31 December 2017

26  Business combinations

In February 2017, the Group (through CPCE) completed on the leasehold of Grapes in Oxford for the amount of £150,000 and the 
leasehold of the Three Crowns, Shoreditch for £569,000.

In June the Group (through CPCE) acquired Red Lion in Cambridge for £1,450,000, comprising £1,350,000 in cash and £100,000 
in shares.

The Group (through CPCW) also acquired Old Fire House in Exeter in July 2017, which started trading straight away, for consideration 
of £3,100,000. £2,635,000 was paid on completion, with £155,000 payable on the first anniversary of completion and the final 
£310,000 payable on the second anniversary.

The Group (through CPCE) completed on the acquisition of Aragon House which is a freehold pub for £7,750,000,comprising 
£4,750,000 in cash and deferred consideration of £3,000,000 of which £2,000,000 was paid in cash during the period and 
£1,000,000 issued in shares on 7 November 2017 (see note 22).

All of the above acquisitions were part of the Group’s continuing strategy to expand its pub portfolio via selective quality 
acquisitions. Material acquisitions are disclosed below.

Provisional fair value:

Property, plant and equipment acquired

Deferred tax liability

Goodwill

Total

Satisfied by:

Cash

Shares

Deferred consideration

Total

Provisional fair value:

Group
2017
£

Company
2017
£

 12,324,463 

 9,224,463 

 (470,431)

 1,164,968 

– 

 694,537 

 13,019,000 

 9,919,000 

 11,454,000 

 8,819,000 

 1,100,000 

 1,100,000 

 465,000 

–

 13,019,000 

 9,919,000 

Red Lion 

Aragon House

Old Fire House 

Property, plant and equipment acquired

1,225,000 

7,410,464 

3,100,000 

Deferred tax liability

Goodwill

Total

Satisfied by:

Cash

Shares

Deferred consideration

Total

–

–

225,000 

339,536 

(470,431)

 470,431 

1,450,000 

7,750,000 

3,100,000 

1,350,000 

100,000 

–

6,750,000 

1,000,000 

2,635,000 

–

–

465,000 

1,450,000 

7,750,000 

3,100,000 

All other pub acquisitions have been accounted for as property acquisitions.

5 6

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
27  Financial commitments

The Group had commitments under non-cancellable operating leases in respect of land and buildings. The Group’s future 
minimum operating lease payments are as follows:

Within one year

Between one and five years

After five years

Group
2017
£

1,167,053 

4,668,212 

12,816,510 

18,651,775 

Group
2016
£

987,053 

3,948,212 

Company
2017
£

954,553 

3,818,212 

Company
2016
£

679,553 

2,718,212 

12,161,995 

11,171,510 

8,594,995 

17,097,260 

15,944,275 

11,992,760 

Commercial operating leases are typically for 15 to 25 years, although certain leases have lease periods extending up to 99 years. 

28  Ultimate controlling party and related party transactions

(i)  Ultimate controlling party and related party transactions

 The Directors consider there to be no ultimate controlling party. The following related party transactions took place during 
the period:

 £10,400; 2016: £6,602 was paid to Helen Watson, who is related to Clive Watson. At the period end Helen Watson was owed £nil 
(2016: £nil).

During the period the Group made a contribution of £10,000 to Alex Derrick in relation to office support.

 As disclosed in note 15 the Company is owed £10,687,384 (2016: £113,618 included in other receivables) by its subsidiary 
undertaking CPCW.

(ii)  Remuneration of Key Management Personnel

 The Company consider that the Directors are their key management personnel and further detail of their remuneration is 
disclosed in note 24. 

 No key personnel other than the directors have been identified in relation to the periods ended 31 December 2017 and 
25 December 2016.

29  Post balance sheet events

In January 2018 the Group completed on a former Lloyds bank site in Reading for the consideration of £2,720,000. The site will 
require significant investment and will start trading toward the end of 2018.

Also in January the Group completed on the Belle Vue, a freehold pub in Clapham for the consideration of £2,875,000. Following 
a minor refurbishment the site reopened for trading towards the end of February.

In February 2018 the Group completed on the leasehold of a site at Cambridge station. The site will be fitted out and will open 
as the Old Ticket Office in May 2018.

In March 2018 the Group also exchanged and completed on a freehold site in Cardiff for the consideration of £1,075,000. This site 
will undergo a major refurbishment and will start trading in June 2018. 

In April 2018 the Group exchanged on a freehold site in Cambridge. The consideration will be £1,400,000 and should complete 
towards the end of the month. The site will require significant investment before opening for trade in 2019.

30  Capital commitments

At the period end the Group and Company has no capital commitments excluding the financial commitments disclosed in note 27.

5 7

STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DI R E C T OR S ,  OF F IC E R S   A N D   C OM PA N Y   I N F OR M AT ION

Directors 

Clive Watson ACA – Chairman
Rupert Clark – Managing Director
Alex Derrick – Managing Director
Tarquin Williams ACMA – Chief Financial Officer
John Roberts – Non Executive Director
Richard Prickett – Non Executive Director
Neil Griffiths – Non Executive Director

Secretary and Registered Office 

Nominated Adviser and Corporate Broker 

Corporate Broker 

Auditors 

Solicitors  

Bankers 

Registrars 

James Dudgeon
Essel House
2nd Floor
29 Foley Street
London W1W 7TH

Liberum Capital Limited
25 Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9LY

Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG,
London Branch
60 Threadneedle Street
London EC2R 8HP

Grant Thornton UK LLP
30 Finsbury Square
London EC2P 2YU

Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Exchange Tower
19 Canning Street
Edinburgh EH3 8EH

Barclays Bank PLC
Exchange Tower 2
Harbour Exchange Square
London E14 9GE

Equiniti Limited
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing BN99 6DA

Company registration number: 

07814568

5 8

The City Pub Group Annual Report and Accounts 2017 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Designed and produced by:
Instinctif Partners  www.creative.instinctif.com

The City Pub Group plc
Essel House 
2nd Floor 
29 Foley Street 
London W1W 7TH

0207 559 5106

citypubcompany.com