Beefeater has issued a final call for loyalty members to cash in their points before 106 restaurants close permanently in September. The warning comes as parent company Whitbread confirmed the shutdown of its Brewers Fayre chain and other branded eateries across the UK, affecting around 200 sites in total.
Closure dates and brands affected
Brewers Fayre, which operates 89 restaurants, will serve its final meals after dinner service on September 7. The Beefeater chain, including venues in Birmingham, will close on September 10. Other Whitbread brands—Bar + Block, Table Table, and Cookhouse + Pub—are set to shut their doors on September 3.
The closures are part of Whitbread’s previously announced strategy to phase out all separately branded restaurants, focusing instead on its Premier Inn hotel business. The company says this move is more efficient and “highly popular with hotel guests.”
Loyalty points deadlines
Members of the Beefeater Grill Reward Club, Bonus Club, and Tasty Rewards have until August 31 to spend their accumulated points. To do so, they must have accrued points or submitted receipt details through their account by August 24. After that date, members must convert their points into vouchers to redeem at the restaurants, with all spending completed by August 31.
At 7am on Tuesday, September 1, any points balances that have not been spent will be wiped from the loyalty website. Whitbread is urging customers to act quickly to avoid losing their rewards.
Impact on staff and future plans
The closures will affect thousands of employees across the UK. Whitbread has not yet disclosed exact job losses but has said it will support affected staff through redeployment opportunities where possible. The company is replacing the standalone restaurants with dining options inside Premier Inn hotels, which it believes will be more efficient and better aligned with guest preferences.
Whitbread is also expanding its hotel portfolio, aiming to increase the number of rooms from approximately 86,600 to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its core hospitality business.
Company statement
In April, Whitbread chief executive Dominic Paul explained the rationale behind the overhaul: “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term.”
The announcement has sparked reactions from customers and local communities, many of whom have expressed disappointment over the loss of familiar dining venues. However, Whitbread remains committed to its new direction, focusing on hotel-integrated dining experiences.
