The Cup that cheers for Enterprise Inns

The group, which has 7,000 leased and tenanted pubs with a combined value of more than 5bn, said that average income per pub during the third quarter of its financial year was in line with a year earlier.

This was better than the decline of 3 per cent in the six months to March 31 and continued the improved trend seen following last year's drop of 8 per cent.

Greene King recently said trading had been better than expected, while JD Wetherspoon sounded a slightly more upbeat note about prospects last week.

Enterprise said: "The trend of stabilisation in the estate has continued and we are pleased that, with the help of reasonable weather and the World Cup, average income per pub during the third quarter was in line with that achieved last year."

As well as better trading conditions, Enterprise's performance has been helped by the disposal of poorer quality and "potentially unviable" pubs. It has completed the sale of 402 pubs so far in this financial year, generating proceeds of 124m.

A further 102 pubs have exchanged contracts or are in the hands of solicitors for completion this year, raising an additional 29m.

Aided by the disposals, the number of pubs under temporary management, where outlets are moved through a programme of refurbishment and relaunch, fell from 84 in March to 55 and should be close to zero by the end of the financial year. The number peaked at 218 last summer. Solihull-based Enterprise, which is the UK's second biggest pubs group, said it continued to see strong demand from new licensees wishing to take on good quality pubs.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently gave the industry the all-clear following a "super complaint" from the Campaign for Real Ale amid fears that high rents and beer prices were forcing landlords out of business.

Enterprise has developed a new range of lease and tenancy agreements which have been taken up by more than 1,300 existing and new licensees over the past 18 months. This has included an option for release from the tie for wines, spirits and minerals, plus incentive discounts of up to 155 triggered by the achievement of pre-agreed volume targets.