Mitchells & Butlers, one of the UK’s top operators of managed restaurants and pubs, has reported strong trading over the festive season, up by 7.7% over the core three-week period.
In its First Quarter trading update, covering the 15 weeks ended 10 January 2026, across a portfolio that includes the national All Bar One, Toby Carvery, Harvester and Browns brands, Mitchells & Butlers enjoyed a 4.5% strengthening in like-for-like sales.
Over the five key festive days in particular – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day – the business generated combined like-for-like sales growth of 10.5%.
Across the year to date, the group’s total sales have grown by 3.5%.
Chief executive Phil Urban said: “We are pleased to report another exceptionally strong festive trading period, marked by numerous record-breaking performances across our brand portfolio and continued market outperformance in every segment.
“Sales growth on key festive dates was particularly strong, with Christmas Day setting a new all-time record for the highest sales day, surpassing last year’s benchmark.
“Our focus remains on tackling the significant cost headwinds faced by the industry this financial year through the effective execution of our Ignite programme and our successful capital investment programme, driving both cost efficiencies and increased sales,” said Urban.
“We remain well positioned to further grow market share in the year ahead by leveraging the strength of our diverse portfolio of established brands and enviable estate locations.”
Urban said that the group would continue to focus on investment in its estate, because it was encouraged by the returns being generated.
Mitchells & Butlers remained “confident in its ability to manage the c.£130m of year-on-year cost headwinds we expect to face this financial year, driven primarily by increased labour costs and food cost inflation”.
