Draft House like-for-like sales up 5.9%

The 15-strong operator reported like-for-like sales up 5.9% in the four weeks to 31 December, with numerous records broken – particularly at its Plough Place site just off Chancery Lane, central London.

McVeigh said that the integration of the Grand Union estate, acquired last summer, was proceeding well and that, in the meantime, “Draft House is fully focused as a business on converting and rationalising what we have”.

He added: “Our January 'Beer is Bonzer' Australia month beer promotion is going great guns. We have imported numerous pallets of never-before-seen Aussie beer into the UK, bringing a welcome dose of 'beer sunshine' to this gloomy time of year. Turbo Shandies and Rock Shandies will also be available at the bar, of course.

“Events including Bogan Bingo and huge Australia Day parties in many of the pubs add to the mix. The menu features several Aussie dishes including the Lot Burger (featuring beetroot, pineapple and a fried egg) and the soon-to-be legendary Egg Plant Parmy (known as Parmigiana in the rest of the world).”