Stonegate Pub reports 8-12 pct rise in sales over Christmas period

Stonegate Pub Company reported an 8-12 percent rise in sales over the Christmas period on Friday, the first major UK bar owner to report on holiday results in a sector that has been plagued by unseasonal weather and Brexit worries. Stonegate, whose Slug and Lettuce chain is part of a portfolio of more than 700 British pubs, said festive events such New Year's Eve and Boxing Day boosted sales by 12 percent in the two weeks to Jan 1. Like-for-like sales growth was 7.8 percent and for the season's key trading days, including Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, sales were up on average 8.3 percent, the company said.