Marston's helped by food sales

Like-for-like sales at the managed pubs unit were 1.7 per cent ahead of last year, as food sales, which account for about 40 per cent of sales, grew 2.5 per cent.

Drinks sales climbed 1.4 per cent. The company, which like other pub companies has made a push to increase higher margin food sales, said like-for-like profit at its tenanted pubs, which are owned by pub companies but run by publicans, fell 3.7 per cent year on year.

This was better than a 4.5 per cent fall reported at interim results in May. Pubs have suffered over the last two years from a smoking ban, recession, above-inflation increases in beer duties and as cheap booze offers in supermarkets kept drinkers at home.

The biggest pubs and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers in September reported a surge in food sales in recent weeks and said it was looking to make acquisitions as it re-shapes itself into a food-led business.

In the same month JD Wetherspoon and Greene King both said they were trading in line with expectations.