Trading Statement

City Centre Restaurants PLC
08 January 2004

8 January 2004



                          City Centre Restaurants plc

                        ('the Company' or 'City Centre')

                                 Trading update


Trading update



City Centre Restaurants plc is pleased to report that it has enjoyed an
encouraging second half to the year ended 31 December 2003.



Trading in December was buoyant and like-for-like sales for the full year to 31
December 2003 have been maintained at the +3 per cent. level. Combined with a
strong performance from new openings and reduced interest charges, the Board
anticipates reporting, in due course, an excellent trading performance for the
year to 31 December 2003.



The Christmas and New Year trading period (the 14 days to 4 January 2004) was
particularly strong across the group with like-for-like sales up +7 per cent..
The City Centre board is pleased with this end to 2003 and the positive start to
2004 and is confident in the prospects of the group for the coming year.



Merger with ASK Central plc



The boards of City Centre and ASK Central plc continue to work on their joint
integration plans and remain firmly committed to the merits of the merger
between the two businesses which include:



  • The combination of two complementary businesses with strong market
    positions across Leisure Parks, Concessions and the High Street and with
    strong roll-out prospects
  • The creation of a strong management team combining industry experience and
    entrepreneurial flair
  • Opportunities for cost savings and economies of scale as well as
    re-branding opportunities and improved flexibility within the combined
    property portfolio
  • City Centre's progressive dividend policy, including the second interim
    dividend of 2.85p payable to City Centre shareholders in due course once the
    merger is completed



Alan Jackson, Executive Chairman of City Centre, commented:



' We have traded well in the last year and continued to see buoyant trading as
the year has come to a close. 2004 has also begun well.



With regards to the merger of City Centre and ASK Central plc, the combination
has clear commercial and financial logic, creating a restaurant group with
critical mass and strong market positions under a management team that can
exploit the combined group's full potential.'



Enquiries

City Centre Restaurants plc            020 7747 7750

Alan Jackson, Executive Chairman
Andrew Page, Group Managing Director



College Hill                           020 7457 2020

Matthew Smallwood



END




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