England's early World Cup exit hits UK pub operators

LONDON (Reuters) - England's dismal World Cup campaign in Brazil was doubly disappointing for Britain's pub operators, with the team's early exit prompting soccer fans to stay at home to watch the rest of the tournament, leading pub chains said on Thursday.

Mitchells & Butlers , whose chains include All Bar One and Harvester, blamed the soccer showpiece for keeping sales flat at its pubs open for more than a year in its financial third quarter. It said average food spending had fallen in a "weak" eating and drinking market in May and June.