Irish-backed UK pub group warns of uncertain customer demand ahead of reopening

A small group of customers stand outside a pub in the West End area of London, U.K., on Friday, March 20, 2020. A shutdown of the U.K. capital would hit the night-time economy hard -- one in three employees in London works between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., many in the pubs, restaurants and clubs most at risk of survival because of the pandemic.

UK pub group Mitchells & Butlers – of which Irish financiers JP McManus and John Magnier are substantial shareholders – has posted a first-half loss and warned of ongoing uncertainty ahead of a return to trading.