Leading pub operators Marston’s and Fuller’s reported increased sales over the summer period, attributing the boost in part to the World Cup football matches and favorable weather conditions. Both companies noted that the influx of football fans contributed to higher customer footfall across their venues.

Marston’s said it sold two million pints of beer during England’s World Cup fixtures alone. Chief Executive Justin Platt highlighted the success of the company’s Grandstand pubs, which are designed to capitalize on major sporting events, noting that these locations continued to deliver results surpassing expectations. Despite this surge during peak football matches, Marston’s reported a 1.6 percent decline in like-for-like sales for the 42 weeks ending July 18 compared with the previous year. The company attributed this overall dip to “softer” market conditions outside of peak periods, which offset the strong growth seen during busier times.

Fuller’s also announced a positive trend in sales, with like-for-like revenue increasing over the past 16 weeks. The pub group pointed to sustained demand and increased customer visits during the summer months.

Both Marston’s and Fuller’s results reflect the influence of major sporting events and seasonal factors on pub trade, though underlying market challenges remain outside of peak trading periods.