Pub group Marston's was today reporting stronger sales for the past year despite wet weather dampening summer trade. Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 The Wolverhampton-based group is now separate to the brewing side of the business, Carlsberg Marston's.
It runs the company's chain of pubs, moving out of the Chapel Ash brewery site to its own separate offices in St John's House, Wolverhampton. Marston's runs about 1,370 pubs across the UK, many of them popular food-based businesses. The Hollybush, on Wolverhampton's Penn Road, is one of its busiest in the country.
Today's trading update was expected to unveil a rise in like-for-like sales as punters continued to drink and dine at its venues despite pressures on consumer budgets. Analysts at Panmure Liberum have predicted Marston's will today record sales of £900 million, with like-for-like growth of five per cent, for the year to September. In its most recent update, the company said like-for-like sales grew by 5.
2 per cent over the 42 weeks to July 20, while total sales from its managed and franchised pubs increased by 6.2 per cent. In July, the company highlighted that sales growth was slightly slowed over the latter four months as wet weather pressed on demand.
However, this was significantly offset by a boost during the Euro 2024 football tournament. The results come amid a transition period for the business, as it fully focuses on pub operations after exiting brewing operations fu.