Key facts:

• Whitbread plans to convert all remaining branded restaurants into an integrated food and beverage model.
• The company aims to save £250 million as part of its cost-saving measures.
• Whitbread intends to sell and lease back £1.5 billion of its freehold properties.

Dominic Paul, CEO of Whitbread, stated, “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests.” This change aligns with the company’s new five-year business strategy. The Beefeater brand has been part of the UK dining landscape since 1974.

The Unite union is seeking consultations regarding the job cuts. Whitbread’s workforce in the UK and Ireland currently stands at around 30,000 employees. The closures will impact many families across the region.

Whitbread reported flat revenues for the year ending February 2026. However, it achieved a pre-tax profit of £298 million during the same period. Despite this profit, Whitbread’s shares have fallen 20% over the past six months, prompting a reevaluation of its operational model.

Paul added, “This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.” The company has faced pressure from investors such as Corvex to rethink its business strategy amid changing market conditions.

The next steps for Whitbread involve implementing this new strategy while managing the fallout from these closures. Officials have indicated that they will provide further updates as the transition progresses.

The post Beefeater restaurant closures mark a shift in Whitbread’s strategy appeared first on News Casino.

The company plans to convert all 197 of its branded restaurants into hotel-based food and drink services. The closures will affect around 12% of Whitbread’s workforce of 30,000.

Whitbread’s restructuring is part of a broader strategy aimed at maximizing value amid rising costs linked to recent fiscal changes in the UK. The company also plans to sell and lease back £1.5 billion of its freehold properties. Whitbread has more than 800 Premier Inn hotels across the UK.

This change comes after Whitbread’s revenues for the year ending February were flat compared to the previous year. Additionally, shares have fallen by 20% over the past six months.

The Unite union has expressed concern over the job cuts. They are seeking consultations with Whitbread regarding the proposed redundancies. Union representative Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe criticized the company for communicating these cuts through media rather than directly informing staff.

Dominic Paul, CEO of Whitbread, stated, “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests.” He emphasized that this move will unlock more profitable extension rooms.

This decision follows a review of Whitbread’s business strategy initiated in November 2025. The company aims to adapt to changing market conditions while focusing on its core hotel operations.

The hospitality sector continues to face challenges, but Whitbread’s pivot indicates a significant realignment in their business model moving forward.

The post Whitbread restaurants appeared first on News Casino.