Busy Valentine's Day and Easter boost business for Greene King

Strong business on Valentine's Day and Easter helped pub operator Greene King get through what has been a tough second half to its financial year.

In a trading update for the 51 weeks to 26 April 2015, the group, which is on the verge of taking over the Spirit Pub Company, announced that like-for-like sales were up 0.4% (0.8% without impact of new stricter Scottish drink-driving regulations). Total sales growth for the period was 6.3%.

Meanwhile turnover during Easter grew by 2.4%, with record sales of £4m recorded on Valentine's Day when the volume of Prosecco sold was up over 150% on the previous year and 3,600 oysters were ordered in Loch Fyne Seafood & Grill.

Rooney Anand, chief executive of Greene King, said: "We once again traded well over key events, such as Valentine's Day and Easter, as customers celebrated and enjoyed these occasions in our pubs. The second half of this financial year, however, has been tougher than the first half, with more difficult comparatives to last year and the additional impact of new drink driving legislation in Scotland."

Spirit Pub Company has 770 managed pubs, including the Taylor Walker, and Fayre & Square brands, while Greene King has 1,000 managed pubs and over 900 tenanted and leased pubs.

As well as Loch Fyne, Greene King's portfolio of branded pubs includes Hungry Horse, Old English Inns and Flame Grill, which it operates alongside its tenanted and leased division.