BY expanding beyond its traditional South Coast base, pub company Eldridge Pope has become firmly established among the new breed of former regional brewers, posting £2.5 million half-year operating profits from running pubs.

Chairman Christopher Pope said the company had produced a resilient performance in an arduous period for the pub industry, demonstrating the underlying strength of a core estate being developed through investment in existing pubs and by acquisition.

The Dorchester company ceased brewing in 1997, and over seven years has set out to dilute the influence of seasonal trade by extending from its traditional Wessex heartland to have a strong presence along the M4 corridor and beyond.

The resulting trading area stretches from London, along the South Coast from West Sussex to Devon, and in April moved into Wales for the first time. The newly-refurbished Rose & Crown, Brocken-hurst; the Angel, Lyming-ton, and Original White Hart, Ringwood, are doing especially well.

Profits before tax, bolstered by exceptional profit of £1.2 million, rose from £1.79 million in the same six months last year, while underlying pre-tax profit from continuing businesses was up 13.6 per cent. Operating profit in the company's primary manager pub estate rose 13.6 per cent to £2.5 million.

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