Marston's Pedigree is one of the firm's best-known brands

It said underlying pre-tax profit fell 1.2% to �73.1m ($125.6m)for the year to September, in line with forecasts.

Now it is on the hunt for more pubs in central and southern England after a hot summer boosted trading in its 1,600 pubs, many which have beer gardens.

The company, which defeated a hostile bid from Pubmaster in 2001 brews Pedigree, Banks's and Mansfield beers.

"We have an organic strategy that works and if we can complement that with acquisitions, then fine," said chief executive Ralph Findlay after the results announcement.