Poor December hits Old English Inns

Pub group Old English Inns saw like-for-like sales of food and drink fall by 5% during December, the company announced today.

It has also lowered its trading expectations for the current financial year, which ends in April.

A statement issued by the group read: "December reflected poor millennium trading in rooms, food and beverage sales.

"Notwithstanding the disappointing level of sales, we are confident that our performance for the current financial year will show reasonable progress compared with last year, albeit below earlier expectations."

The company expects to sell off four of its properties by the end of the financial year.

Old English Inns also has a new head of operations. Kevin Hosking, previously divisional director of restaurants at Greenalls, joined on Wednesday.