Festive boost: Marston’s said retail sales between September 30 to January 20 grew 8.8%, compared to the previous year
Marston’s pubs enjoyed ‘strong’ sales over Christmas and new year.
The pub chain also said it witnessed easing cost inflation. Marston’s, which owns 1,414 pubs across the UK, said retail sales between September 30 to January 20 grew 8.8 per cent, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Trading was particularly positive on key festive holidays like Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve, when it said sales jumped 9.6 per cent.
Justin Platt, chief executive officer of the Wolverhampton-based business, said the company is positioned well for the new year.
The company, which was founded in 1834, fell to a £20.7million pre-tax loss in 2023 after it was affected by interest rate swap movements and charges linked to weaker property valuations, compared with a £163.4million profit a year earlier.
In October 2023, the firm said it planned to cut a number of head office jobs in order to help save £5million amid pressure from rising costs.
Marston’s shares lost 1.5 per cent, or 0.5p, to 32.8p yesterday.
