Pub owner Mitchells & Butlers today reported slowing sales ahead of the first winter for smoking bans in England and Wales.
Despite a helping hand from the Rugby World Cup and football fans watching the European Championship games, overall like-for-like sales grew by 1.4 per cent in the seven weeks to November 17th.
This compared with 3 per cent in the 12 months to September 29 and the group, which owns All Bar One and Harvester, added: "The outlook for consumer spending remains uncertain and the first winter of the English smoking ban will be challenging."
Full-year pretax profits dipped marginally to £207 million, while costs linked to a shelved property deal with entrepreneur Robert Tchenguiz have risen to £260 million.
Publicans who flout the smoking ban in England and Wales, introduced in July, will face fines.
Despite an overall sales slowdown, M&B recorded more positive signs from its English pubs since the ban was introduced in July.
It said like-for-like sales among previously smoking English pubs had increased 1.5 per cent, with food sales up 5 per cent.
The company said the performance was broadly in line with sales trends in Scotland last year.
PA