Restaurant Group thrives as punters eat through crisis

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Andrew Page, chief executive of the chain that owns 375 branches of Garfunkel's, Chiquito, Frankie & Benny's and other UK restaurants, said eating out had become the norm for Brits, who won't give it up whatever the economy is doing.

"Eating out is now habitual here," he said. "There's no doubt that VAT going up next year and public-sector cuts will not be helpful, but I'm optimistic about the outlook.

"Even this time two years ago, when the economy looked very bleak indeed and there were serious concerns about unemployment breaching three million, we grew our profits and earnings."

The Restaurant Group saw its pre-tax profit rise 13% to £24.6 million in the six months to July, despite being hit by diners staying away during the World Cup. It shared the spoils with investors, upping the interim dividend 10% to 1.54p per share.

Page flagged up Garfunkel's "superb" performance, with its prominent central London locations including the Strand and Oxford Street helping to deliver "very significant" growth in profit.