Five popular restaurants in Somerset are set to close as hospitality giant Whitbread scales back its Brewers Fayre and Beefeater chains due to escalating operational costs. The company, which also owns Premier Inn, plans to shut down 200 restaurants nationwide, resulting in approximately 3,800 job losses.
In the South West, 21 restaurants will close, including locations in Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, and Bristol, while Somerset will lose five key venues. Affected sites include the Brewers Fayre restaurants in Glastonbury and Minehead, along with the Pavilion Beefeater in Weston-super-Mare, the White Lodge Beefeater in Taunton, and the Frome Flyer.
These closures form part of Whitbread’s new five-year strategy aimed at achieving £250 million in cost savings and revitalizing its restaurant offerings. Although the company intends to retain the majority of its 30,000 employees, approximately 12% of staff at affected sites will be laid off.
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Many of these restaurants have long served as dining staples for visitors staying at Premier Inn hotels, which they often accompany. The Beefeater brand will disappear completely after more than five decades, while Brewers Fayre was approaching its 50th anniversary in 2029.
Whitbread CEO Dominic Paul attributed the difficult decision to significant cost pressures, including higher business rates and National Insurance contributions, particularly following the recent government budget introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
To support its new growth strategy, Whitbread plans to sell and lease back up to £1.5 billion worth of freehold properties, using the proceeds to invest in future expansion. Paul emphasized plans to rebrand remaining restaurants with integrated food and beverage services better suited to hotel guests, enabling the addition of more profitable hotel rooms.
“Our focus remains on driving efficiency and strengthening our market position, especially as many competitors face growth challenges,” Paul added.
South West Brewers Fayre closures include the Glastonbury and Minehead locations. Beefeater restaurants closing in the region include the Pavilion in Weston-super-Mare, White Lodge in Taunton, and the Frome Flyer.