First published on Wed 19 May 2021 06.23 EDT Customers have been braving the wet weather to flock back to their local for a pint, according to the pub groups Mitchells & Butlers and Marston’s, which have reported strong demand since reopening in mid-April. The pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers, which is now serving customers at almost all of its 1,600 venues, said it was confident its profits would rebound once coronavirus restrictions are fully eased. “We had plenty of examples of hardy souls refusing to leave their pint just because of a bit of rain,” said Phil Urban, Mitchells & Butlers’ chief executive.