Belgrave Beefeater Both Morning Advertiser and The Caterer have reported on the Whitbread plan to close all their pubs. Table Table, Cookhouse + Pub and other brands will close after service on 3 September, followed by Brewers Fayre on 7 September and Beefeater on 10 September. This plan goes far beyond the previously reported plan to close certain pubs next to Premier Inns, and represents the exit by Whitbread from operating all pubs.
How each pub will be dealt with will be determined on a case by case basis. Previously Whitbread had suggested that many pubs next to Premier Inns would be converted into (a) more hotel rooms and (b) a small resident only restaurant. It now seems that Whitbread claims that their Premier Inns customers would prefer an extension of the internal Thyme restaurants, which would suggest that all Whitbread pubs will be disposed of in various ways. It seems very likely that Whitbread will attempt to maximise their returns from the sales of these assets by obtaining planning approval for change of use prior to sale, and Whitbread would not want these pubs to be sold as going concerns.
You can see a list of all 459 pubs we believe to be owned or operated by Whitbread here
These are the the affected pubs in our area:
SDE SDE/342 Grandstand Beefeater Kingsteignton TQ12 3AF Closed
SDE SDE/418 White Rock Beefeater Paignton TQ4 7AZ Open
SDE SDE/49 Belgrave Hotel-Beefeater Torquay TQ2 5HE Open
SDE SDE/94 Inn On The Quay Goodrington TQ4 6LP Open

Please keep me informed of any changes you notice over the next few months