Two of the UK's leading pub operators have reported robust Christmas trading, signalling a resilient consumer appetite that has overcome widespread cost-of-living concerns.
Festive Sales Surge for Pub Giants
Both Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) and Fuller's saw their share prices rise on Thursday 15th January 2026 after disclosing strengthened sales figures for the crucial festive period. This positive news arrives as the pub sector awaits potential financial relief from the Labour Government, following industry backlash over looming business rate increases.
Birmingham-based M&B, which runs popular chains like All Bar One, Toby Carvery, and Harvester, informed investors of an "exceptionally strong" performance. The group's like-for-like sales jumped by 7.7% for the three-week period from 14th December to 3rd January compared to the previous year.
The key festive dates drove this growth, with sales on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day collectively rising by an impressive 10.5%. Notably, Christmas Day set a new all-time record as the highest single day of sales in the company's history.
Strong Momentum and Cost Challenges
Over a broader 15-week period ending on 10th January, M&B's overall sales grew by 4.5%. Food sales were a particular highlight, increasing by 5.1% year-on-year. Despite this success, the company anticipates around £130 million in additional costs this financial year, primarily due to higher wages and food price inflation.
"Sales growth on key festive dates was particularly strong," said M&B Chief Executive Phil Urban. "Our focus remains on tackling the significant cost headwinds... through the effective execution of our Ignite programme and our successful capital investment programme." He expressed confidence in the group's ability to grow market share further.
Rival Fuller's Joins the Celebration
Meanwhile, London-headquartered rival Fuller's also celebrated "outstanding" Christmas trading. The company reported an 8.2% rise in like-for-like sales over the five weeks covering Christmas and New Year.
This strong performance has sustained the group's momentum, with sales up 5.3% across the 41 weeks to 10th January. Simon Emeny, Executive Chairman of Fuller's, stated he was "delighted" with the maintained growth in both sales and profitability, which was "further enhanced with an excellent Christmas trading period."
Both pub groups are navigating a challenging economic landscape but have demonstrated the continued consumer demand for socialising and dining out during the festive season, providing a welcome boost for the hospitality sector.
