UK pub group Marstons expects to hit margin targets ahead of schedule

Fuller Smith & Turner

21/07/2026 08:33

July 21 (Reuters) - British pub operator Marston's MARS.L said on Tuesday it expects to meet its medium-term core profit margin target ahead of schedule, thanks to growing footfall at its improved sports-screening focused pubs and other enhancements to drive profits.  
        
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The company, which owns over 1,300 pubs across Britain, said like-for-like sales for England match days during the soccer World Cup rose 22%, while sales across its sports pubs brand Grandstand, nearly tripled from a year earlier.
"Our pubs have delivered a strong start to the summer ... Our new Grandstand pubs have been leading the way and continue to perform ahead of expectations," said CEO Justin Platt.
In October 2024, Marston's had set a near- to medium-term target to expand annual EBITDA margins by 200 to 300 basis points, which it now expects to meet in the current fiscal year.
For the 42 weeks to July 18, like-for-like sales slipped 1.6% from last year, as broader market uncertainty weighed on demand and offset the boost from peak occasions.
Still, the company kept its annual outlook unchanged
Separately, smaller rival Fuller, Smith & Turner FSTA.L reported an over 5% rise in like-for-like sales for the 16 weeks to July 18, helped by favourable weather and the World Cup.
($1 = £0.7437)

 (Reporting by Prerna Bedi and Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee)
 ((Neeshita.Beura@thomsonreuters.com))