Trading Statement

Mitchells & Butlers PLC
12 February 2004


12 February 2004

                            MITCHELLS & BUTLERS PLC

                               AGM TRADING UPDATE


At the Annual General Meeting held in London at 12 noon today, Roger Carr,
Chairman, made the following statement regarding the company's trading for the
first 18 weeks of the current financial year.


'I am pleased to announce that in the first 18 weeks of the current financial
year, our strategy to grow sales and gross profits has continued to be
successful.  Same outlet like for like sales were up 5.0% against the comparable
period last year as a result of increased sales and marketing activity.  Overall
trading, taking account of the additional regulatory costs, remains in line with
our expectations.


In the residential areas, representing 70% of our estate, same outlet like for
like sales grew by 6.4% and on the high street and Central London by 2.2%.
Total retail sales for the period were up 4.1%. Total volumes of food and drink
were 8% ahead of last year, whilst average food and drink selling prices, net of
promotions, were down 4%.


On an uninvested basis, like for like sales increased by 3.0% and gross profits
remain ahead of last year as the contribution from higher volumes, mix
improvements and purchasing benefits outweighed the reduction in average food
and drink retail prices.  Percentage gross margins were slightly lower than the
same period last year.


Staff productivity improvements, together with the overhead efficiencies put in
place last year, are helping to offset the impact of both servicing the higher
volumes and the additional regulatory costs of £17m for the full year.  Tight
cost management will remain a key focus to maximise the contribution from our
continuing revenue investment to drive like for like sales.


The on-going development of our estate is progressing to plan with 44
conversions to our brand or formats and 3 new site acquisitions completed so far
this financial year. At the same time, we are continuing to take advantage of
buoyant conditions in the property market as a whole to make individual site
disposals, with proceeds of some £20m achieved so far this financial year.


Overall we are making good progress through our sales-led strategy to deliver
sustainable customer value, with a tight focus on managing costs and enhancing
mix.  As a result, we are generating higher quality earnings and strong cash
returns.


For further information please contact:

Mitchells & Butlers plc:
Kate Holligon, Investor Relations                       0121 498 5092
Jeremy Probert, Media                                   0121 498 5547

Finsbury Group:
James Murgatroyd                                        0207 251 3801

Notes to editors:

 -   Same outlet like for like sales include invested and uninvested outlets but
     exclude new sites or disposals that are not in both years being compared.
     93% of the estate is included in this measure.

 -   Uninvested like for like sales include outlets that have not received
     expansionary investment of over £30k in either the current or previous
     financial year. 83% of the estate is included in this measure.

 -   Mitchells & Butlers owns and operates 2000 high quality, managed pubs in
     prime locations nationwide.  The group's predominantly freehold estate is
     biased towards large sites in residential locations.  With some 3% of the
     pubs in the UK, Mitchells & Butlers' estate has 9% of industry sales, an
     average weekly take of over three times the industry average.


Responsibility statement:
The directors of Mitchells & Butlers plc accept responsibility for the
information contained in this update.  To the best of the knowledge and belief
of the directors of Mitchells & Butlers plc (who have taken all reasonable care
to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this update is in
accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import
of such information.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements:
This update contains certain forward-looking statements as defined under US law
(Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  These forward-looking
statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate to historical
or current facts.  Forward-looking statements often use words such as 'target',
'expect', 'intend', 'believe' or other words of similar meaning.  By their
nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and
involve risk and uncertainty.  There are a number of factors that could cause
actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or
implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could affect the
business and the financial results are described in Item 3 Key Information -
Risk Factors in the Mitchells & Butlers plc Form 20-F filed with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission on 28 March 2003.

- ENDS -


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