LEISURE group Whitbread has maintained sales thanks to a good performance by its Premier Travel Inn brand.

Premier achieved an eight per cent improvement over the 24 weeks to August 18, offsetting falls by Whitbread's pub restaurants - Brewers Fayre and Beefeater - and at high street chains, such as TGI Fridays and Pizza Hut.

Overall, the group managed a 0.6 per cent sales improvement, although that was weaker than the one per cent rise achieved in the 13 weeks to June 2.

Total sales growth - excluding the Premier Lodge business it acquired for £505m last year - also drifted to 4.5 per cent from the five per cent reported in June.

Chief executive Alan Parker said the underlying strength of the Whitbread businesses helped the company to an overall increase in sales, with his optimism shown by plans to increase the amount of money it planned to return to shareholders.

Whitbread said the continuing weakness of the retail sector, particularly after the London bombings, had affected Pizza Hut and TGI Fridays the most. Costa Coffee maintained creditable sales growth, he said.

Sales at David Lloyd Leisure were positive after several months of stable membership levels at its older clubs.