Arena lifts profits amid levy uncertainty

The UK’s biggest horseracing operator revealed a rise in half-year earnings today after seeing signs of recovery in corporate hospitality spending.

Arena Leisure, which owns seven venues comprising Wolverhampton, Worcester, Windsor, Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Southwell and Folkestone, said its average attendance was up by 3% to 1,498 as underlying profits for the six months to June 30 lifted 25% to £2 million. Hospitality attendance increased by 13%.