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M&B Q3 like-for-like sales up 5%, refinances debt facility: Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), the Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery operator, has reported that its sales growth remained well ahead of the market through its third quarter, benefiting from Easter trading and recent sunny weather, with like-for-like sales growth for the year to date – 42 weeks to 19 July 2025 – increased by 4.5%. It saw a 5% increase in like-for-like sales in the three months to 19 July 2025, with food sales up 4.9% and drink sales up 4.8%. Food sales for the year to date were up 4.2%, and drink sales up 4.5%. It said that total sales in the year to date have increased by 4.4%. So far this year, M&B said it has completed 150 conversions and remodels and has opened two new sites, in addition to the purchase of two freehold interests in existing sites and the continued rollout of initiatives to reduce energy usage, such as solar panels and sensors. The business said that it had successfully refinanced its unsecured debt facility. The new Revolving Credit Facility has been reduced in size to £150m (from £200m) extending to July 2028 and is based on the same covenant structure at lower margins. The facility is undrawn at the current time. The company said: “Despite well publicised cost inflation challenges facing the sector we remain encouraged by the continued strong performance of the business, which remains well ahead of the market. We are confident that this will lead to an outturn result for the current year at the top end of consensus expectations.” Phil Urban, chief executive of M&B, said: “The business continues to perform strongly, enabling us to meet the cost challenges facing the sector with confidence. We will remain focused on our Ignite programme of initiatives and our successful capital investment programme, driving cost efficiencies and increasing sales. With the unique strengths of our business, including a diverse portfolio of established brands, value proposition and enviable estate locations, we believe we are positioned to continue to grow profitability and market share.”

Premium Club subscribers to receive updated Multi-Site Database with 3,436 operators and 26 new companies today, videos from Operational Excellence Conference on Friday, 1 August: Premium Club subscribers are to receive the updated Multi-Site Database today (Friday, 25 July). The next Propel Multi-Site Database provides details of 3,436 multi-site operators and is searchable in seven main segments. The database features 1,005 (29%) operators from the casual dining sector, 800 (23%) pub and bar operators, 597 (17%) cafe bakery operators, 480 (14%) quick service restaurant operators, 283 (8%) hotel operators, 225 (7%) experiential leisure operators and 54 (2%) fine dining operators. The database is updated each month, and this edition includes 26 new companies. The database includes new companies in the experiential leisure sector such as family entertainment business Funstation Group, Northern Ireland cinema operator Movie House Cinemas, and US interactive museum and social gaming experience Spyscape. Premium Club subscribers will also receive all the videos from the Operational Excellence Conference on Friday, 1 August, at 9am. They include Claire Robertson, operations director of Premium Pubs and Bars within Marston’s, talking about getting the best out of multiple teams. Premium Club subscribers also receive access to five additional databases: the New Openings Database, the Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, the UK Food and Beverage Franchisee Database and the Who's Who of UK Hospitality. All Premium Club subscribers will be offered a 20% discount on tickets to Propel paid-for events and discounts on specialist sector reports. Operators that are Premium Club subscribers are also able to send up to four members of staff to each of our four Multi-Club Conferences for free. Premium Club subscribers receive their daily Propel Info newsletter 11 hours earlier than standard subscribers, at 7pm the evening before. They also receive videos of presentations at eight Propel conference events two weeks after they are held. This represents around 100 videos of industry insight over the course of the year. Premium Club subscribers will be sent a dedicated monthly newsletter that will highlight key updates in the sector and direct subscribers to all the vital content their membership offers. Premium Club subscribers also receive exclusive opinion columns every Friday at 5pm, which include the thoughts of Propel group editor Mark Wingett and a host of industry leaders from across the sector. In this week’s Premium Opinion, Katy Moses examines the HiPPO effect – Highest Paid Person’s Opinion, and the balance between trusting data and trusting gut instincts in business, while Kathryn Cripps, partner at Knight Frank, explores why pedestrian streets are hospitality’s secret weapon in the new work era. At the same time, Propel group editor looks back at the week’s news, especially what’s happening at BrewDog, Cote, Honest Burgers and Oakman Inns. A Premium Club subscription costs an annual sum of £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Premium Club for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or supplier. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com today to sign up.

UK consumer confidence hit amid worries over tax rises: Confidence among British consumers weakened this month, as speculation grew that Rachel Reeves may announce further tax rises in the autumn budget, a closely watched survey has found. The Times reports that GfK’s long-running consumer confidence index – a measure of how people view their personal finances and broader economic outlook – dipped by one point in July. The fall erased gains made over the previous two months and left the index standing at -19, which is below the long-run average of -10. The savings index, which measures whether consumers feel it is a good time to save based on the economic environment, jumped seven points to 34. GfK said that this was the highest level since November 2007, around the time of the financial crisis, suggesting broader anxiety among people about the direction of the economy. Neil Bellamy, consumer insights director at GfK, said that while the savings index did not feed into the overall confidence score, it showed that people “are building contingency funds”. The survey found no change in expectations for personal finances over the next 12 months, with the sub-index holding steady at two. Responses were gathered between 1 July and 15 July, just before the Office for National Statistics reported that inflation had unexpectedly risen to 3.6% in June, the highest rate recorded since January last year. Sentiment about the country’s general economic situation over the past year has significantly worsened since last July. The GfK said the measure now stood at -44 – down from -32 a year ago – reflecting the period since the Labour government took office and pledged not to “increase taxes on working people”. Bellamy warned that people “may be sensing stormy conditions ahead” as other key indicators in the survey suggested growing public uncertainty about whether the government could hold to its promise. He said: “The key measures on personal finances, the economy and purchase intentions are flat in July and many will conclude that consumers are in a cautious wait-and-see mood. With speculation growing over possible tax rises in the autumn budget and price pressure contributing not just to higher inflation already but also to the likelihood of worse inflation to come, the news is worrying.”