Marston’s reported a drop in Christmas trading, however, remains confident that trading will strengthen.
In the 16 weeks to 12 January 2022, sales were down 3.9% amid the Omicron wave. In the last eight weeks, sales were down 8.8% as the government advised people to work from home.
Andrew Andrea, Marston’s boss, said he was confident that trading will return to normal. He said: “While the emergence of the Omicron variant and subsequent Government guidance temporarily impacted consumer sentiment, we remain confident that the strong trading momentum which we were experiencing prior to that will resume.”
“Indeed, there is growing evidence over the most recent of weeks of the New Year that consumer confidence is rebuilding, and guests are returning to our pubs in greater numbers, which is encouraging.”