Pub giant reports Euro 2024 sales jump

The operator employs about 10,000 people across the country

A pub operator has credited Euro 2024 with boosting its sales.

Marston's reported a 5.2% growth in sales between July 2023 and July 2024, but in a trading update it said it had "seen considerable uplift from Euro 2024, with like-for-like sales for the week of the semi-final and final matches rising by 8%."

The firm, which recently sold its 40% stake in a brewing company for £206m, said that had "helped to lessen the impact of recent unseasonably wet weather".

Food sales were also encouraging, the Wolverhampton-based company said.

Earlier this month, the Night Time Industries Association estimated the football tournament generated nearly £1bn in additional revenue across the UK.

Referring to its withdrawal from the brewing industry through the sale of its 40% stake, the firm said the money had gone towards reducing the group's net debt to £1bn in "a significantly accelerated timeframe".

Completion of the transaction was expected on 31 July, without the need for shareholder consent, Marston's said.

The pub giant runs more than 1,300 premises and employs about 10,000 staff.

Marston's and Carlsberg announced a merger in May 2020 to form CMBC.

But at the start of July, Marston's said it had sold its stake in CMBC ending almost 200 years of brewing heritage, which began with Banks and Company at the Park Brewery in Wolverhampton in 1875.