Marston’s: 2,150 jobs at risk

Marston’s has released a trading update saying group sales are down 30% on last year to £821m. Total pub sales for the year were £515m, down 34% on last year. It also said that 2,150 jobs are at risk due to the new restrictions. “This year has been testing on many fronts,” said CEO Ralph Findlay. “Trading has been difficult, but to operate at 90% of last year on a like-for-like basis is better than our forecast, ahead of the market and a highly creditable result. In part, this is because most of our pubs are in suburban or community settings, and we have relatively few pubs in city centres which have been worst hit by changes in working habits.