Hobgoblin's status as the "unofficial beer of Halloween" lifted pub chain Marston's today as more drinkers turn away from big beer brands.

The real ale, which is made by the company's Oxfordshire-based brewery Wychwood, grew sales by 4% in the year to October 4 and received a further seasonal boost with a strong performance over the Halloween period.

As well as an estate of around 1,700 pubs comprising managed, franchised and leased outlets, Marston's brews Pedigree, Banks's, Jennings, Wychwood, Ringwood and Brakspear.

The Wolverhampton-based company is undergoing a two-year overhaul of its pub estate as it looks to offload weaker, drink-led sites and focus investment on new-build outlets.

Underlying profits fell 3.6% to £83 million, while the impact of pub disposals and other one-off charges contributed to a bottom-line loss of £59.2 million.

The company's brewing division grew revenues by 4.1% to £132.5 million and profits by 3% to £17.4 million as Marston's said its focus on premium and regional beers reflected strong consumer interest in this area.

Over the last five years, the company said volumes have grown by 30% in premium bottled ale and by 9% in premium cask ale.

Marston's said: "Many beer drinkers have become bored by conventional 'big beer brands' and the market has fragmented with more interest in provenance, choice and taste.

"Growing demand for premium beers reflects this trend and the increasing importance of it when eating out in pubs."

About one in five premium bottled ales and one in six premium cask ales in the UK are Marston's brands. Hobgoblin is its biggest brand and is marketed by the company as the 'Unofficial Beer of Halloween'.

Since 2009 the group has opened more than 100 pub-restaurants offering family dining. They generate turnover typically averaging £27,000 per week with a food sales mix in excess of 50%.

It also introduced franchise-style agreements in 2009 to improve its community pubs.

They differ significantly from traditional tenanted and leased models as they do not include rent or payments for beer, meaning risks to the licensee are reduced.

Marston's said it was unlikely that the introduction of 'market rent only' options as recently proposed by MPs will have a material impact on its Taverns estate.

The company disposed of 388 pubs during the year, generating proceeds of £144 million, and anticipates a further £70 million in proceeds in 2015.

Chief executive Ralph Findlay said: "There are some signs of modest economic improvement, with the emergence of real wage growth and resilience within the economic regions outside London."