More than 50 sites in a popular UK pub and restaurant chain could be saved and rebranded under a new hospitality group.
The venues would reopen as value-oriented pubs after being sold by Whitbread, the owner of the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre chains.
The sites, alongside Bar + Block, Table Table and Cookhouse + Pub restaurants, are all set to close in the coming weeks as part of a major restructuring plan.
However, out of 261 sites earmarked for closure, 53 have been sold to Queensway Inns, who plan to relaunch them as a new chain.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites could be rebranded
A Whitbread spokesperson told Newsquest: "Whitbread has reached an agreement for the conditional sale of 53 branded restaurant sites to Queensway Inns, subject to a number of final conditions being met.
"Queensway Inns has extensive experience operating hospitality businesses across the UK and intends to operate the sites as going concerns.
"Subject to completion of the sale and following the relevant TUPE information and consultation processes, around 900 team members could transfer and will be supported through the process."
The 53 sites are reportedly a mix of all Whitbread brands earmarked for closure, with some Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites potentially being saved.
The future of the remaining 208 restaurant sites remains uncertain.
Queensway plans to rebrand and relaunch the sites as affordable pubs, but the new brand name, menu pricing, and reopening dates have not been confirmed.
Queensway has been contacted for comment.
When are Beefeater and Brewers Fayre closing?
It is all part of Whitbread’s wider Accelerating Growth Plan, which aims to expand its Premier Inn hotels by adding 3,600 new rooms through restaurant conversions.
This programme involves closing or repurposing all remaining branded restaurants by mid-September.
Closures will begin on September 3, with a combined 66 Bar + Block, Table Table, and Cookhouse + Pub sites shutting.
Brewers Fayre will close all 89 of its sites on September 7, marking the end of a brand that has operated for 45 years.
Beefeater, a longstanding favourite for family dining and steakhouse meals, will close all 106 locations on September 10.
Customers are advised to redeem any reward points by August 31.
Whitbread CEO Dominic Paul said the restructure was necessary due to mounting costs, including increased National Insurance and business rates sparked by then Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
The group aims to raise £1.5 billion by selling freehold property to fund future growth.
The overhaul is expected to result in 3,800 job losses, but Whitbread has said that it will look to support colleagues affected.
Recommended reading:
- Asda announces major shake-up affecting 3,500 workers nationwide
- UK construction firm with hundreds of employees enters administration
- Wetherspoons to open 12 new pubs over coming months - see the full list of locations
A Whitbread spokesperson said previously: "The proposed sale represents further progress against Whitbread’s Accelerating Growth Plan, first announced in April 2024.
"In April 2026 Whitbread announced a proposal to extend the programme to include all remaining branded restaurants and add a total of 3,600 new hotel extension rooms in locations with strong demand, whilst continuing to offer a great breakfast, dinner and drinks nationwide through the creation of new Premier Inn restaurants inside all hotels.
"This mirrors the format which is already in operation in over half of Premier Inn hotels and is highly popular with hotel guests."
Is one of the potential rebrands near you? Let us know what you think about the plans in the comments.
Share