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Wadworth & Co Ltd

Asset-rich, historic pub company

04 Aug 2026 / Corporate research

Wadworth & Co Ltd (WAD:AMPX) shares have been admitted to trading on Asset Match Private Market, the FCA approved PISCES trading venue. Wadworth is a long-established regional brewer and pub operator in the South and West of England. It has 19 managed houses, 127 tenanted pubs and a brand new brewery. A large majority of the shares are owned by over 100 family members, but there is no controlling interest. It has substantial assets on which it is making only a modest return currently. The pub business has faced some tough legislative and economic headwinds in recent years, but Wadworth is profitable and the estate is managed actively to improve its value consistently.

  • Strategy: Management is looking to capture the full operational and financial benefit of the new brewery and the reinvestment of the proceeds from the disposal of the old site, including marketing existing beers and developing new ones. The pub estate will continue to be actively managed.
  • Tough environment: The problems facing the hospitality sector are well documented with rising costs (energy, business rates, NI charges, minimum wage increases, etc.) and ever more regulation. While dealing with these and improving efficiency, the company is looking to restore dividends when it is prudent to do so.
  • Valuation: Net income metrics are distorted by the high (non-cash) tax charge, but the well-justified net asset value works out at nearly £11 a share, well below the 110p (A shares) and 250p (Ord) share prices. The return on the assets, though, is currently modest, even adjusting for the tax.
  • Risks: We do not think Wadworth faces any material specific risks, beyond those faced by anyone in the hospitality and brewing business. It has substantial debt but has recently been refinanced on attractive terms (other than the preference shares), and is well backed by assets. Cash interest cover was 2.1x in FY2025.
  • Investment summary: Wadworth has very substantial assets and a long heritage. It appears to be well supported locally with its traditional beers outselling market trends. Management is focused on improving returns on the estate and looks to reap the benefits of the investment in the new brewery. Investors have a substantial cushion between the current values the shares have traded hands on and the underlying asset value.
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