MARSTON's has welcomed being back in the black, after trade at its pub estate recovered from the side effects of Covid-19 lockdowns this year.

And the operator of around 1,500 pubs said it had seen "encouraging" levels of Christmas bookings, with the venues anticipating the first Christmas in three years without Covid-19 restrictions.

It was also hopeful about the benefits of an atypical winter World Cup, with the first two England World Cup games resulting in like-for-like drink sales up around 50 per cent versus last year.

Sales over the last eight weeks have been elevated almost seven per cent on a like-for-like basis, the London-listed chain added.

In results for the year to the end of September , the community pub operator posted a total profit before tax of £163.4 m, versus a loss of £171.1m the year prior.

Full year sales hit 99 per cent of 2019 levels, including a period of disrupted Christmas trading amid the Omicron Covid-19 outbreak at the end of 2021.

The company is aiming to return sales back to £1bn and slash its group debt by 2026, with bosses adding yesterday that they remained "confident" about these goals being able to drive value for shareholders.

The pub company had introduced a "simplification of menus" in order to boost visitor satisfaction, while delivering "enhanced operational and purchasing efficiencies," the firm said yesterday.

Marston's chief Andrew Andrea has previously told City A.M. that a cost of living crisis would not deter thirsty Brits from enjoying their local pubs post-pandemic.

"Having been locked up for two to three years, we are even more social animals," Andrea said earlier this year.

"In times of economic challenge, people look for flight to value" he told City A.M. Pubs were well placed to take up market share from restaurants as consumers pursue cheaper nights out, the pub boss said.

It comes as pub and restaurant businesses have been grappling with a cocktail of costs this winter, with bills from labour to energy to food rising.

Consumers have also started to tighten their belts due to a cost of living crunch, leaving businesses in a situation where they are unable to fully pass on the cost of inflation to customers.

(c) 2022 City A.M., source Newspaper