* Sales rise over Christmas period
* Enters 2019 with positive momentum- CEO
* Latest positive sign from UK consumer business(Adds details, context)
By Karina Dsouza
Jan 4 (Reuters) - The owner of Britain's Slug and Lettucepub chain reported higher sales over the Christmas period, thefirst major British bar owner to report on holiday trading in asector facing changes in drinking habits and shaky consumersentiment.
Stonegate Pub Company <IPO-SPC.L>, which has a portfolio ofmore than 700 pubs, bars and late night venues, said sales rose12 percent on the year in the two weeks to Jan. 1.
The figures were the latest sign of solid Christmas tradingafter reports from high profile retailers Next and John Lewis..
Like-for-like sales growth was 7.8 percent between Dec. 1and Jan. 1 and for important trading days, including ChristmasEve and New Year's Eve, sales were up 8.3 percent on average,the company said on Friday.
"We have entered 2019 with positive momentum," said ChiefExecutive Officer Simon Longbottom, adding that a new bookingsystem had helped to maximise revenue and gain market share inthe Christmas season for a chain that also serves food.
A younger generation more concerned with socialising onlinethan heading to their local pub and the availability of cheaperdrinks in supermarkets have put pressure on operators andspurred a series of closures in the past decade.
As many as 476 pubs shut for good in the first six months oflast year, according to figures from the Campaign for Real Ale.
Many of those have been small, independent houses, howeverand another leading chain operator, Greene King,reported an increase in profit in November.
Stonegate is the fourth largest managed pub company in theUK, established in 2010 to acquire 333 pubs from Mitchells &Butlers plc and expanding through a slew of acquisitionssince.
Its portfolio includes chains such as Slug and Lettuce andfamous London drinking dens like Fleet Street's the CheshireCheese.(Reporting by Karina Dsouza in BengaluruEditing by Patrick Graham/Keith Weir)
