The owner of Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel has reported record profits despite being ranked the UK's worst hotel chain for the last decade.
Newly-filed accounts have revealed Britannia Hotels' pre-tax profits swelled to £33.3m for the 12 months to March 31, 2022, after falling to a loss of £9.5m in the prior year.
The documents also show the business, which is headquartered in Hale, Cheshire, achieved a turnover of £117.8m, up from £38.3m.
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The figures compare to its final year before the full impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in which its turnover totalled £120.4m and its pre-tax profits were £13.7m.
The chain's average number of employees during the financial year increased from 1,765 to 1,818 having been slashed by almost 1,000 in the prior 12 months.
In November 2022, Britannia Hotels was rated the worst in the UK for the 10th year in a row.
Its hotels rated just two stars out of five for categories such as cleanliness, bed comfort and value for money in the annual survey by consumer group Which?. It received an overall customer satisfaction score of just 56%.
Guests described the surroundings as "tired and tatty", with a "rough and ready" feel.
A statement signed off by the board said: "The result represents a return to performance levels comparable to pre-Covid-19 achieved during a period of difficult trading conditions which continues to limit opportunities for growth.
"Our priorities continue to be maintaining occupancy levels and to manage operating costs whilst ensuring that the business is well placed to exploit the opportunities of the future."
On its future, the company added: "The directors remain confident the company is in a good position to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
"The hotels have managed to maintain their competitive edge through the economic downturn and continue to take steps designed to attract new business and improve market share going forward. The directors have carefully considered the availability of working capital and likely levels of trading over the next 12 months.
"They are confident the business is well placed to meet the challenges including the current geopolitical uncertainty, cost of living crisis and the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic."
The company's accounts for the 12 months to March 31, 2023, are due to be filed with Companies House by the end of the year.
A list of all Britannia's hotels:
- Waterside Hotel Peterhead
- Britannia Aberdeen Hotel
- Coylumbridge Aviemore Hotel
Britannia Edinburgh Hotel
Britannia Inn Glasgow
Adamton Country House, Prestwick
Britannia Hotel Newcastle Airport
Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, Newcastle
Grand Hotel Sunderland
Clifton Hotel Scarborough
Royal Hotel Scarborough
Grand Hotel Scarborough
Britannia Leeds Bradford Airport Hotel
Hollins Hall Hotel, Golf & Country Club
Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool
Savoy Hotel Blackpool
Grand Hotel Blackpool
Britannia Hotel Leeds
Metropole Hotel, Blackpool
Midland Hotel Bradford
Royal Hotel Hull
Scarisbrick Hotel Southport
Royal Clifton Hotel
Prince of Wales Hotel Southport
Britannia Wigan Hotel
Britannia Bolton Hotel
Sachas Hotel Manchester
Britannia Hotel Manchester
Britannia Country House Hotel, Manchester
Britannia Airport Hotel Manchester
Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool
Britannia Hotel Stockport
The Ashley Hotel, Manchester
Airport Inn Manchester Hotel & Spa
Daresbury Park Hotel & Spa, Warrington
Grand Hotel Llandudno
Palace Hotel Buxton
North Stafford Hotel
Britannia Nottingham Hotel
Sprowston Manor Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Norwich
Bosworth Hall Hotel & Spa, Market Bosworth
Britannia Hotel Wolverhampton
Britannia Hotel Birmingham
Royal Court Hotel Coventry
Britannia Coventry Hill Hotel
Britannia Hotel Coventry
Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa
Britannia Hampstead Hotel
International Hotel, London
Basingstoke Country Hotel
Airport Inn Gatwick
Russ Hill Hotel Gatwick
Europa Gatwick Hotel
Gatwick Lodge
Grand Burstin Hotel Folkestone
Meon Valley Hotel, Golf & Country Club, Southampton
Royal Albion Hotel Brighton
The Cavendish Hotel, Eastbourne
Carrington House Hotel Bournemouth
Roundhouse Hotel Bournemouth
Britannia Hotel Bournemouth
Healthlands Hotel Bournemouth
Royal Bath Hotel Bournemouth
Trecarn Hotel Torquay
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