Whitbread boosted by Premier Inn performance

Whitbread, which also owns the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pub restaurant chains, said comparable sales across the group were up by 7.9 per cent in the 24 weeks to August 19.

Sales at Premier Inn hotels open for more than a year were up 10.7 per cent with revenue per available room increasing by 9.8 per cent.

Whitbread said its business account sales had increased by more than 20 per cent, while offers of rooms from 29 per night had boosted trade at weekends and holiday periods.

Sales at Costa Coffee outlets open for more than a year were up by 8.3 per cent.

Shares in Whitbread closed on Monday at 1512 pence, valuing the business at 2.65bn.