A strong recovery is under way in the tenpin bowling industry, judging from the half-year results from Ten Entertainment Group, the UK operator of 46 bowling-oriented FEC venues.
During the half year to June 27, the company’s locations were closed for 20 weeks, reopening on May 17 for just six weeks of the half-year period. And in 2020 the venues traded for the first 12 weeks of the year, followed by 14 weeks of enforced closures due to the pandemic.
The half-year saw sales of £10.6m compared with the longer opening in 2020 when turnover was £22.5m. Like-for-like comparisons, however, show an improvement of 22.5 per cent. EBITDA was £0.6m compared with £4.8m.
There was a loss of £10.7m compared with £6.2m which after tax was £8.8m compared with £6.7m.
The company said that in the 11 weeks since June 27, sales were up 42 per cent and footfall growth had driven the most successful summer trading period in the group’s history.
The company said that despite some supply chain disruption and staff turnover, Ten Entertainment had emerged strongly. CEO Graham Blackwell, paid tribute to this staff for "a remarkable performance." He added: ”We will return to our strategy of growth through acquisitions and internal investment.”
