Restaurant operator, Hartford Group, has announced results for the 28 weeks to 12 April, showing turnover – following the acquisition of Jamies Bars – up 135 per cent to £7.5m.

EBITDA – positive for the first time in the company’s history – rose to £262,000, compared with a loss of £353,000 for the same period last year, and a pre-tax loss of £0.4m was a reduction from £5.2m.

Hartford chair, Stephen Thomas, said: "The company has made good progress in the first half and an improving financial performance has continued into the initial weeks of the second half."

He added: "There are signs that market conditions are beginning to improve in the City."

Whilst the management has been concentrating on conserving cash in the current trading environment, nineteen of the company’s sites have received some refurbishment during the period.

The most significant of these were at Jamies Charlotte Street, where an eight week closure saw improvements costing £250,000, and at Jamies Canary Wharf and The Pavilion in Finsbury Circus, which cost a combined £93,000. All three sites are reported to have seen a "significant" increase in takings.

The Hartford Group operates throughout London and the Home Counties area. Details: www.hartfordgroup.co.uk