21 January 2025

MARSTON'S PLC

('Marston's' or 'the Group')

Trading Update for the 16 weeks to 18 January 2025

Strong growth over key festive trading period¹ with continued confidence in delivering FY25 market expectations²

Marston's PLC, a leading local pub group, issues the following trading update for the 16-week period to 18 January 2025, in advance of the Company's Annual General Meeting to be held at 10am today.

All sales comparisons are to the same period in FY24.

Total retail sales in the Group's managed and partnership pubs for the 16-week period were up +3.0%, driven by growth in both food and drink sales, demonstrating the continued appeal of Marston's community-based estate and leading product offering.

Like-for-like sales during the same period were up +2.0%, reflecting strong trading over the festive period offset by poor weather conditions in November and January.

During the key festive trading period¹, the two weeks which include the five key trading days of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, like-for-like sales were very strong, up +11.1%.

Justin Platt, CEO of Marston's PLC, commented:

"I am pleased to report a solid first quarter performance for Marston's, with a particularly strong key festive trading period¹, achieving record sales on Christmas Day." 

"We are excited for the year ahead as we build on this performance through the successful execution of our refocused strategy, driving revenue growth through event driven marketing and the roll out of our differentiated pub formats."

"We remain well placed to deliver FY25 market expectations² and the guidance set out at our October 2024 Capital Markets Day."

Notes

¹ Festive trading period defined as 22 December - 4 January inclusive

² FY25 market consensus for underlying PBT is £68.3m

Forthcoming Events

Please find below the forthcoming dates for Marston's financial reporting, which are also available on the investor calendar on our website - www.marstonspubs.co.uk/investors

2025 Interim Results: 13 May 2025

Enquiries:

Marston's PLC

Justin Platt, CEO                                                                      Tel: 01902 329516

Hayleigh Lupino, CFO                        

Matthew Lee, Investor Relations                                              [email protected]

Rebecca Jamieson, Investor Relations                                                [email protected]

Giles Robinson, Director of Corporate Affairs                         [email protected]

Sodali & Co (Media)

Ben Foster                                                                               Tel: 020 7250 1446

Russ Lynch                                                                              [email protected]

Oliver Banks                                                                           

Notes to Editors

Marston's PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker MARS, is a leading local pub operator with an estate of 1,334 pubs nationally, comprising managed, partnership ('franchised') and tenanted and leased pubs. Marston's employs around 10,000 people. More information is available at: https://www.marstonspubs.co.uk/.