Company blames ‘significant cost increases in the form of business rates and National Insurance’

William Telford Senior Reporter and Business Specialist

08:44, 02 May 2026Updated 08:49, 02 May 2026

The Gifford Beefeater(Image: Google)

Four Bristol restaurants are set to be shuttered as hotel giant Whitbread decided to ditch its Brewers Fayre and Beefeater chains, blaming the Government for skyrocketing costs.

The company, which owns Premier Inn, announced it will shut 200 restaurants across the country, resulting in 3,800 job losses.

In the South West, 21 are scheduled for closure, including in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Gloucestershire.

On the hit list are three Brewers Fayre outlets in Bristol and another two Beefeater diners.

They include Gordano Gate, in Portishead; Lewins Mead; The Wessex Flyer, at Hengrove Leisure Park; and The Gifford, in Stoke Gifford.

The cuts, to be made across the UK and Ireland, come as part of Whitbread’s new five-year strategy, which will see the firm attempt to make a quarter of a billion pounds in cost savings while overhauling its restaurants.

While the company said it would be able to retain the vast majority of its 30,000-strong workforce, the cuts will see roughly 12% of employees laid off across the closed locations.

The restaurants are typically located next to or inside Premier Inn hotels, and have been a staple for the millions of people who visit per year.

The wave of closures will mean Beefeater restaurants will cease operations after more than 50 years in business, with Brewers Fayre having been set to celebrate the same milestone in 2029.

Whitbread blamed Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget for the closures, with chief executive Dominic Paul saying the move was necessary “in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and National Insurance”.

In practice, it will mean Whitbread selling and leasing back up to £1.5bn of its freehold properties, and will “recycle” the amount to “fund future growth”.

Mr Paul said: “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests and will unlock the addition of more highly profitable extension rooms.

“Our continued efforts to drive our commercial plan and efficiencies will extend our market-leading position and allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow.”

Under the plan, the following South West Brewers Fayre restaurants will close:

  • Bideford (Devon)
  • Exeter (Devon)
  • Glastonbury (Somerset)
  • Gordano Gate (Bristol)
  • Inn On The Quay (Devon)
  • Lewins Mead (Bristol)
  • Loggans Moor (Cornwall)
  • Minehead (Somerset)
  • Old Nelson (Gloucestershire)
  • The Wessex Flyer (Bristol)
  • Whittle Inn (Gloucestershire)

The following South West Beefeater restaurants are also set to close:

  • The Belgrave (Devon)
  • Carnon Inn (Cornwall)
  • Countess Wear (Devon)
  • Frome Flyer (Somerset)
  • The Gifford (Bristol)
  • Marsh Mills (Devon)
  • The Pavilion (Somerset)
  • Twelve Bells (Gloucestershire)
  • White Lodge (Somerset)
  • White Rock (Devon)

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