Whitbread has announced plans to close all Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, impacting nearly 4,000 jobs across the UK and Ireland. This decision marks a significant shift for the company as it aims to focus solely on its hotel operations.
The closures will affect approximately 12% of Whitbread’s workforce of 30,000 employees. Specifically, the company will shut down its remaining 197 restaurants, with some locations being converted into additional hotel rooms to support the growth of its Premier Inn brand.
This move comes amid pressure from an activist investor urging Whitbread to reevaluate its business strategy. The company has been reviewing its operations since November 2025 due to rising costs and declining revenues.
Key facts:
- Whitbread plans to cut about 3,800 jobs in total.
- The proposed changes are part of a new five-year plan aimed at enhancing profitability.
- The Beefeater brand has been in operation since 1974.
Officials from Whitbread have expressed their commitment to retaining a significant proportion of affected staff. A spokesperson stated, “We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.” Meanwhile, the Unite union is seeking consultations regarding the proposed redundancies.
Recent financial reports revealed that Whitbread’s revenues remained flat for the year ending February 26. Additionally, shares have dropped by about 20% over the past six months due to various challenges facing the hospitality sector.
Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe from Unite criticized how employees learned about the job cuts through media reports, calling it disgraceful. The union aims to ensure that affected workers receive fair treatment during this transition.
