Searcys wraps up an extraordinary year by exceeding its Β£175,000 charity pledge target in its 175th year, announcing new business wins, scooping a plethora of awards, and reporting a strong financial performance. The company’s sales exceeded the pre-Covid 2019 benchmark by 9% in the past eight months. The success can be largely contributed to the pent-up demand for events and also to brand visibility from its celebration campaigns and the sheer hard work of its team, united in restarting the business post-pandemic.
Searcys has been growing its team
Since restrictions lifted in early 2022, Searcys has hosted over 15,600 events, welcomed over 50,000 event attendees, served 100,000 cups of tea, and poured 175,000 glasses of Champagne. This in turn has seen Searcys grow to over 1,100 employees, along with the appointments of the new Commercial Director, Head of Recruitment, Head of Champagne and an additional Operations Director.
As well as growing its team, the company expanded its portfolio with three new venue partnerships with Stationersβ Hall, Church House Westminster and social enterprise restaurant, Brigade.
Searcys 175th year rolled out the amazing Champagne Rolls-Royce
The companyβs 175th birthday was also marked by the launch of Londonβs first Champagne Rolls-Royce Bar on wheels β currently in residence at Battersea Power Station. October saw the return of Europeβs longest Champagne Bar, St Pancras Champagne Bar, which reopened with a brand-new look following an extensive refurbishment.
The group also expanded its drinks offering with the arrival of its own Searcys English Sparkling Wine and a limited-edition Blanc de Blancs Champagne with further products in development for 2023.
Searcys’ success was recognised with a record number of awards
Searcysβ incredible work has been recognised with a record number of awards this year – 11 for its event venues alone, including βEvent Caterer of the Yearβ at the Foodservice Cateys. The company also scooped βBest Events Venueβ for Searcys at the Gherkin and βBest Historic Venueβ for 116 Pall Mall at The London Venue Awards, while Searcys at the Barbican, Gherkin and The Pump Room in Bath received top TripAdvisor Travellersβ Choice Awards 2022.
Fundraising for charity was equally successful
Throughout the year to reach its Β£175k anniversary charity pledge, the Searcys team partook in a variety of grassroots fundraising activities, volunteering and implementing initiatives across the venues. This ranged from charity runs and bake sales to raising over Β£10,000 for #CookforUkraine across Searcysβ restaurants and bars. In addition, Managing Director, Paul Jackson, led a gruelling 175 mile βTour De Searcysβ bike ride, which raised over Β£18,000. With the final total of Β£175,000 achieved, donations have been shared across nominated charities, including Hotel School and Beyond Food foundation. Searcys 175th Birthday Ball for hospitality leaders raised Β£6,000 for its nominated causes.
Paul Jackson, Managing Director of Searcys comments: βAfter the past few years of uncertainty, our restaurants, champagne bars and events venues are back in full swing. Despite starting the year with the industry under lockdown restrictions, we have collectively achieved so much over the past 12 months. This 175th milestone year has been one of growth and celebration of our heritage β a testament to the legacy of our founder John Searcy. I would like to thank every member of the team for their hard work and commitment to delivering the highest quality event and dining experiences β I am enormously proud of every one of them.β
βFor 2023, our focus is on the βart of finesse,β with exciting product development and campaigns in the pipeline. Itβs a simple message, but we wouldn’t be Searcys, if we hadn’t got some special surprises up our sleeve, so watch this space!β
Searcys has also been serving afternoon tea for 175 years.
