Whitbread PLC to Close All Beefeater Restaurants in UK

Whitbread PLC will close all 106 Beefeater restaurant sites across the United Kingdom on September 10, 2026. The closures are part of a five-year restructuring strategy intended to transform the company into a pure-play hotel business focused on the growth of its Premier Inn brand. The overhaul aims to reduce costs by £250 million and will eventually include the closure of Brewers Fayre sites, though specific dates for those shutdowns remain unconfirmed.

The restructuring places approximately 3,800 jobs at risk, although the company expects to redeploy a significant portion of the affected workforce. To fund expansion, the company plans to sell roughly £1.5 billion in freehold properties and convert several restaurant sites into hotel rooms, with a target of 96,000 rooms by the 2031 financial year.

Chief Executive Dominic Paul stated that the new plan builds on the company's strengths and accelerates its strategy to deliver higher margins and returns for shareholders. The shift prioritizes an integrated food and drink model centered around the hotel business.