PATISSERIE Holdings, owners of cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, which has a branch in York, said its underlying earnings grew by 24 per cent to £12.3 million in the year to September.

Its revenues rose by 21 per cent to £60 million after it opened 19 new stores, including in Glasgow, Derby and a number of London railway stations.

The chain now has 137 outlets after adding seven stores in the new financial year, including in Exeter and Cheltenham, and buying the 23-outlet sandwich and salad chain Philpotts.