Sales of its own beers and food has driven growth at Marston’s, the pub group, although margins have been hit by rises in the cost of energy and brewing raw materials.

However, the company on Thursday said it would report a stronger end to the year to October 9, as sales at its Marston Inns business in the final 9 weeks rose 2.7 per cent, with food sales rising 5.7 per cent in that period.