Australia and England’s World Cup runs helped boost high-street bar operator Regent Inns during a tough first half of the year.

However, despite a strong performance at Walkabout, the group’s Australia themed bar, group like-for-like sales slipped 0.4% due to the difficult trading conditions on the high street since the New Year.

Regent Inns executive chairman Bob Ivell said: “Regent has continued to perform in line with expectations and benefited from strong trading at the time of the World Cup. The board remains confident of the on-going prospects for Walkabout and Jongleurs.”

Ivell added that the company continued to hunt the market for acquisition opportunities as part of its previously announced strategy to become a consolidator in the sector.

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By Chris Druce

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