SUNNY weather and the World Cup were a winning combination for pubs operator Enterprise Inns.

The group, which has 7,000 leased and tenanted pubs with a combined value exceeding £5bn, said average income per pub during the third quarter of its financial year was in line with a year earlier.

This was better than the decline of 3% in the six months to March 31 and continued the improving trend seen following last year’s drop of 8%.

Enterprise said reasonable weather and fans visiting pubs to watch World Cup matches had helped it maintain income levels.

Enterprise said its performance had also been helped by the disposal of poorer quality and “potentially unviable” pubs.

The group has sold 402 pubs so far in this financial year, generating proceeds of £124m.

A further 102 pubs have exchanged contracts or are in the hands of solicitors for completion this year, raising an additional £29m.

The number of pubs under temporary management – where outlets are moved through a programme of refurbishment and relaunch – fell from 84 in March to 55 and should be close to zero by the end of the financial year.

The Office of Fair Trading recently gave the industry the all-clear following claims by the Campaign for Real Ale that high rents and beer prices were forcing landlords out of business.