UK pub group abandons Irish plans

British pub and restaurant owner Mitchells & Butlers is understood to have scrapped plans to expand into Ireland.

The group — which owns popular UK pub chains such as All Bar One and the Irish-themed O’Neill’s — had, reportedly, been running the rule over opportunities here earlier this year, even apparently having gone as far as identifying up to six potential locations in Dublin and Cork.

A large part of M&B’s recent growth strategy has surrounded its family-themed restaurant division, which includes the likes of Harvester and Toby Carvery. The group recently bought a chunk of British rival, the Orchid Group for £266m (€335m) to boost that division further.