Revenues on the rise at leaderless M&B

Pubs owner Mitchells and Butlers hasn't had a chief executive for many months, but that doesn't seem to be hindering sales.

In the 42 weeks of the year so far revenues at its pub restaurants, which include Harvester and the Toby Carvery, are up 1.9 per cent.

Executive chairman Bob Ivell said: "Despite the continuing poor weather and challenging economic conditions, we are continuing to deliver a resilient operating performance"

M&B is introducing free wi-fi across its estate, something critics say pubs should have done long ago.