Nearly 200 Beefeater, Brewers Fayre restaurants close

Nearly 200 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants across the United Kingdom are closing this week as part of a strategic shift by their owner, Whitbread. A total of 89 Brewers Fayre locations closed on Monday, September 7, 2026. These closures will be followed by the shutdown of 106 Beefeater restaurants on Thursday, September 10, 2026. These closures are part of a broader plan by Whitbread to transition its restaurant portfolio to an integrated food and beverage model. The company, which also owns Premier Inn, announced in April that it would be closing all its standalone restaurant chains. In total, 261 Whitbread-owned restaurants and pubs are ceasing operations this month, including other brands such as Bar Block, Cookhouse Pub, and Table Table. The strategic pivot aims to enhance efficiency and profitability in a challenging retail environment. Whitbread's chief executive, Dominic Paul, stated that the changes are intended to strengthen the company's market position. The company plans to convert some of its remaining restaurant sites into additional Premier Inn hotel rooms and sell off approximately 1.5 billion pounds worth of freehold properties to fund further growth.