LONDON (Reuters) - Pubs group Marston's <MARS.L> said on Friday it was confident of meeting full year expectations as it posted a 21 percent fall in first half underlying pretax profit to 27.7 million pounds.
Marston's said like-for-like sales at its 550 managed pubs, which include the Pitcher & Piano chain, were up 1 percent in the 13 weeks to 16 May, boosted by a 5.6 percent rise in food sales.
The company reported an unchanged interim dividend of 4.8 pence.
(Reporting by Matt Scuffham, Editing by John Bowker)