Founded in 1898 by the merger of two family breweries and pub estates, it has grown ever since by merger and acquisition. Among these in the 1960s were mergers with Bass and Charringtons, with the company eventually trading as Bass plc.

 

However, the M&B name re-emerged in 2002 following further changes of ownership and the present day independent operator of pubs, bars and restaurants was established. With changing consumer demands, food sales have continued to grow and now account for some 30% of sales in M&B outlets, compared to just 11% ten years ago and breaking through the £500 million in November 2006. In July last year, M&B bought 239 pub restaurants from Whitbread, at a cost of £500 million. 

Mainly Beefeater and Brewers Fayre brands, they were re-branded to become Premium Country Dining, Toby Inns, Vintage Inns, Ember Inns or Sizzling Pub Co outlets.

 

The restaurant division comprises 830 sites in residential, suburban and rural areas. In cities and town centres it operates restaurant bars and brasseries, All Bar Ones, which are classic cosmopolitan bars for the over-21s; and Browns, brasseries which are often located in landmark buildings.

 

There is also a chain of city centre bars and brasseries in Germany, trading as Alex brands. M&B also operates in the budget hotel sector, with Innkeeper's Lodge and Express at Holiday Inn. Latest performance figures at mid-September 2007 were strong, with same outlet like-for-like sales up by 3.2% over 50 weeks, drink sales up 2.5% and food 5.3%. 

Although the company believes that the overall impact of the smoking ban will benefit its business, the 11 weeks immediately following its introduction followed expectations, with drink sales in England up by 0.9% and food by 5.8%.