Weather boosts Wolves
Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&D) said the good weather had contributed to "satisfactory" trading, in a statement ahead of year-end results expected in December.
The group's managed pub division, Pathfinder Pubs, said like-for-like sales for the 51 weeks to 20 September were 3.6% ahead of last year, and sales in its tenanted Union Pub Company were 2.7% ahead.
However, W&D said licensing reform next year is expected to cost the group £1m.
M&B faces higher costs
Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) said the increase in the minimum wage to £4.50, effective from this week, would cost the group £10m.
The pub and brewery business, formed from the split-up of Six Continents earlier this year, said increases in property rates, insurance and pensions would cost the group a further £7m.
Issuing a trading statement for the 51 weeks to 20 September, M&B said sales had been boosted by marketing activity and good weather.
Businesses in which M&B had invested over the past 12 months grew sales by 2%, while sales at those which had not benefited from the same attention fell 0.1%.