More than 100 Whitbread restaurant sites to reopen under new ownership

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 09:45 · Archive

More than 100 former Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Cookhouse sites will reopen after being acquired by two hospitality groups.

Whitbread has closed 261 restaurants across the UK as part of a major cost-cutting programme. More than 100 of these former Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Cookhouse + Pub sites will now reopen under new ownership, reversing the job losses and closures that followed.

Queensway Inns has acquired 53 sites, including locations in Great Yarmouth, Dover and Glastonbury, and plans to relaunch them as 'value pubs'. Common Table Group, a newly established hospitality firm, has separately agreed to acquire 57 sites, with the deal also including one Premier Inn hotel.

The Howgate in Whitehaven is among the venues being saved, bringing a boost for customers and jobs in west Cumbria. Queensway Inns said more than 900 team members could be transferred into new roles as part of the reopening programme.

Common Table Group announced that all its acquired sites would be up and running 'as soon as possible', with the first opening planned in mid-November. Thomas Anderson, founder of Common Table Group, said the company was 'building an entrepreneurial business with a local feel, where our teams are empowered to make decisions and shape each venue around the people and communities it serves'.

The sites will 'remain restaurants at heart' and will offer an all-day food and drink menu designed for both hotel guests and diners. Anderson confirmed that the new venues will include a coffee offering from his London-based doughnut brand, Rodeo Doughnuts.

How it is being reported

• Cumbria restaurant saved as more than 100 Whitbread sites reopenMore than 100 former Beefeater, Brewers and Cookhouse sites will reopen after being acquired by Queensway Inns and Common Table Group.NW Evening Mail · 12 Oct, 09:35
• Cumbria restaurant saved as more than 100 Whitbread sites reopenMore than 100 former Beefeater, Brewers and Cookhouse sites will reopen after being acquired by Queensway Inns and Common Table Group.News & Star · 12 Oct, 09:35
• Cumbria restaurant saved as more than 100 Whitbread sites reopenMore than 100 former Beefeater, Brewers and Cookhouse sites will reopen after being acquired by Queensway Inns and Common Table Group.Whitehaven News · 12 Oct, 09:35
• Cumbria restaurant saved as more than 100 Whitbread sites reopenMore than 100 former Beefeater, Brewers and Cookhouse sites will reopen after being acquired by Queensway Inns and Common Table Group.Westmorland Gazette · 12 Oct, 09:35

In this story: Whitbread · Queensway Inns · Common Table Group · Rodeo Doughnuts · Thomas Anderson · Whitehaven · The Howgate

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