Joy of Christmas

Enterprise Inns , Britain’s second-biggest pub owner, said on Thursday its business had performed well over Christmas, and it slammed the government’s handling of a forthcoming smoking ban in England.

The days of the week on which the Christmas holidays fell, favourable weather and a recent extension of opening hours were among the factors that boosted pub sales this past season.

“In line with everyone else, the run-up to Christmas was extremely good,” Chief Executive Ted Tuppen told Reuters ahead of the group’s annual general meeting.

“The period between Christmas and New Year was very solid,” he added. “And what’s important for us once Christmas is over is whether the cellars are still full, and they clearly weren’t, because the ordering after Christmas was good as well.”

Enterprise shares rose 1.5 percent to 942 pence by 0900 GMT, valuing the group at around 3.2 billion pounds.

Bridgewell Securities retained its “buy” recommendation and said Enterprise was its favoured stock in the pub sector.

With around 8,600 tenanted pubs, Enterprise was Britain’s biggest pub owner until last month, when rival Punch struck a 2.7 billion pound ($4.8 billion) deal to buy the Spirit pub group.

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