M&B bounces back after World Cup

With football to watch, customers were less likely to have a pub meal

Pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers has said trading improved after the World Cup earlier this summer.

The firm said the World Cup tournament had hit sales in its restaurants, which include the Harvester brand.

M&B, which also owns the All Bar One bar chain, said like-for-like sales in the ten weeks since the World Cup ended had improved by 5.3% year-on-year.

In Scotland, where a smoking ban was introduced in March, sales were up 2.6% in the 50 weeks to 16 September.

While drinks sales in Scotland had fallen 1%, there had been an 11% rise in turnover for food.

M&B bought 239 Whitbread pub restaurants in July.