Hollywood Bowl Group plc (LON:BOWL), the UK and Canada’s largest ten-pin bowling operator, has announced its audited results for the year ended 30 September 2025.
Financial Summary
| Adjusted results1 | Statutory results | |||||
| FY2025 | FY2024 | Movement FY2025 vs FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2024 | Movement FY2025 vs FY2024 | |
| Revenue | £250.7m | £230.4m | +8.8% | £250.7m | £230.4m | +8.8% |
| Group EBITDA pre-IFRS 16 | £68.4m | £67.7m | +0.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Group EBITDA | £91.2m | £87.6m | +4.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Group profit before tax (pre-IFRS 16) | £49.4m | £53.4m | -7.5% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Group profit before tax | £46.0m | £50.3m | -8.6% | £44.3m | £42.8m | +3.6% |
| Group profit after tax | £36.7m | £37.6m | -2.4% | £34.6m | £29.9m | +15.7% |
| Earnings per share | 21.51p | 21.92p | -1.9% | 20.28p | 17.42p | +16.4% |
| Earnings per share (pre-IFRS 16) | 23.61p | 23.95p | -1.4% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total ordinary dividend per share | 13.28p | 12.06p | +10.1% | 13.28p | 12.06p | +10.1% |
1 A reconciliation between adjusted and statutory is shown later in the report.
Continued strong financial and operational performance
· Fourth consecutive year of record revenue and adjusted EBITDA, in line with expectations
o Group revenue of £250.7m up 8.8% (FY2024: £230.4m)
o Group adjusted EBITDA growth (pre-IFRS 16) of 0.9% to £68.4m (FY2024: £67.7m)
o Group adjusted EBITDA growth of 4.2% to £91.2m (FY2024: £87.6m)
· Group like-for-like (LFL) revenue growth of 0.6% (1.3% on a constant currency basis)
o UK LFL up 1.1%, despite a challenging backdrop for indoor leisure, with spend per game (“SPG”) up 9.2%
o Canada LFL up 3.2% on a constant currency basis, with SPG up 14.8%
o Strong value credentials maintained – a family of four can bowl in the UK for £26
· Group statutory profit after tax up 15.7% to £34.6m (FY2024: £29.9m)
o Group adjusted profit after tax of £36.7m (FY2024: £37.6m)
· Strong cash generation and free cash flow with robust balance sheet
o Maintained tight control on costs driving efficiencies in Group functions
o Closing net cash balance of £15.2m
· Total of £35m returned to shareholders in the year
o Dividend policy updated to 55% of adjusted PAT pre-IFRS 16
o Proposed final dividend of 9.18p, giving a total dividend of 13.28p
o £15m share buyback completed in the period
Disciplined investment to drive growth
· Estate expansion plan ahead of target
o Opened a record five new sites in the UK and two in Canada
o On track to reach 130 centres by 2035 – 95 in UK and 35 in Canada
o Completed five refurbishments in the UK and seven in Canada
o New sites and refurbishments performing in line or above expectations
o Tenant of choice through strong covenants and sector-leading offer
· Proactive initiatives boosting bookings, improving customer experience and SPG
o Dynamic pricing to stimulate bookings and optimise yield at centre level
o Upweighted data driven marketing activity for sales activation and retention
o New Group-wide booking system driving increased conversion and order values
o £11m invested in new amusement machines improving customer choice
o Trialling new initiatives, including E-darts and cashless amusement payments
· Largest branded operator in Canada
o Significant growth since FY2022 – 3x centres, 3.9x revenue and 3.75x EBITDA
o Canada now accounts for 15% of Group revenues
o Successfully replicating UK operating model in Canada
o Introduced market innovations including wear your own shoes and bowling by the game
· Senior leadership team expanded and realigned for next stage of growth
o Antony Smith joins as Group CFO in February 2026, bringing highly relevant experience
o Laurence Keen appointed Canada CEO from February 2026
Outlook
· Differentiated business model is well-positioned to continue to drive growth
o Ongoing robust demand for multi-generational affordable leisure in UK and Canada
o Operational focus to minimise the impact of external cost pressures and demand levers to maximise revenues and drive profitability
o Over 70% of UK revenue not subject to cost-of-goods inflation, labour costs represent less than 20% of UK revenue and UK energy hedged through FY2027
o Pipeline of four new centres secured for opening in FY2026, in line with capital allocation policy
Stephen Burns, Hollywood Bowl Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We delivered a fourth consecutive year of record revenue and adjusted EBITDA, against a backdrop of industry-wide challenges. We achieved double digit revenue growth in amusements and are the number one bowling operator in Canada. Our focus on the customer proposition and operational excellence yielded strong results, with uplifts in spend per game across all categories whilst maintaining accessible pricing.”
“This performance demonstrates the resilience of our model and the enduring appeal of bowling for consumers. As we look to 2026, we remain focussed on delivering sustainable growth, while generating the compelling shareholder returns we are known for.”
