Pubs n Bars reports satisfactory start to year.
Pubs n Bars chairman Seamus Murphy has reported a 'satisfactory' first half of the year.
The company - which a portfolio of mainly community pubs in the south of England - has published its results for the period up to June 30, 2006.
They show profit before tax of £497,226 - up slightly on 2005 (£486,246) which was achieved on a turnover of £7,668,789 also up slightly on last year's (£7,001,654).
Murphy told shareholders: "Your Board is pleased with this progress."
Speaking about the prospects for the future Murphy said: " The introduction of the smoking ban will certainly initially have a negative effect on turnover, however it will also present some opportunities to attract new customers."
"As well as introducing areas for accommodating smokers, we believe that any lost customers will begin to drift back over time once they have become used to the situation." Additionally, new customers who currently do not visit pubs because of the smoke filled environment, may begin to use our establishments."
Pubs n Bars has 67 venues - 30 managed and 37 tenanted.
