Pub group Marston's has reported that strong drink sales have driven “encouraging” trading, despite cost pressures facing customers.
The business, which operates 1,468 pubs - including 21 in Scotland - and has 12,000 workers, is optimistic for an important winter period, which will include the football World Cup.
Chief executive Andrew Andrea told the PA news agency that the company is yet to see a change in behaviour due to the cost of living.
“People are most likely to be assessing their big-ticket spending and still want to keep up their normal socialising, like going to the pub.
“We are in a good position going into the winter and obviously have both the World Cup and first Christmas without restrictions for three years so there is no reason why we can’t see year-on-year growth.”
Like-for-like sales dipped 1% over the year to 1 October, compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Marston's said this was particularly impacted by the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in December and January.
Sales over the last 10 weeks of the year - from 24 July to 1 October - were up 4% year-on-year and 3% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The group said growth was “predominantly driven by drink sales”, with food sales weaker amid the hot summer weather.
“People didn’t want a carvery in 35 degree heat, but any negative impact in food was easily offset by strong drink trade,” Andrea said, adding that it has continued to find hiring kitchen staff a “challenge”, although no kitchens have been closed as a result.
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