More than 50 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites across the UK, including one in County Durham, are set to reopen after being purchased by hospitality firms Queensway Inn and Common Table Group. The venues were among more than 100 former Whitbread locations acquired by the two companies following a sweeping restructure by the parent company.
Background to the closures
Whitbread, which also owns Premier Inn, closed more than 261 sites in September, resulting in approximately 3,800 job losses. The acquisition by Queensway Inns rescued 53 restaurants, pubs and inns from permanent closure. These will be transformed into a new range of “value pubs”, with over 900 members of staff potentially moving into new positions.
The newly formed Common Table Group plans to take on 53 Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Cookhouse-branded sites, which also includes one Premier Inn hotel. The group confirmed that all venues would open their doors as soon as possible, with the first expected in mid-November, reports WalesOnline. It is believed that more than 700 jobs will be created across the sites.
New ownership and plans
Thomas Anderson, the founder of Rodeo Doughnuts, will head up Common Table Group and invest in refurbishing the venues, developing staff and creating new menus, according to The Caterer. Mr Anderson said: “Our priority is to get the sites back open and trading as soon as possible. We're 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. We're excited about what we can create together and look forward to bringing new energy and ideas to our guests.”
Confirmed list of reopening sites
The Sun has confirmed a list of all the venues scheduled to reopen:
- Ashbridge Inn — Table Table (Cwmbran, Gwent)
- Balkerne Gate — Table Table (Colchester, Essex)
- Bideford — Brewers Fayre (Bideford, Devon)
- Bowling Green — Table Table (Clacton-on-Sea, Essex)
- Brampton Hut — Brewers Fayre (Brampton, Huntingdon)
- Brookes Oast — Brewers Fayre (Paddock Wood, Tonbridge)
- Broomside Park — Beefeater (Durham)
- Cannon Inn — Beefeater (Truro, Cornwall)
- Cotton Mill — Cookhouse + Pub (Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire)
- Craig House — Brewers Fayre (Musselburgh, Edinburgh)
- French Connection — Table Table (Ashford, Kent)
- Glastonbury — Brewers Fayre (Glastonbury)
- Great Yarmouth South Beach Road — Beefeater (Yarmouth)
- Great Yarmouth Restaurant — Beefeater (Yarmouth)
- Griff House — Beefeater (Nuneaton)
- Hampton Inn — Brewers Fayre (Peterborough)
- Horse & Jockey — Table Table (Dunstable)
- Kembrey Inn — Brewers Fayre (Swindon)
- Kincardine Way — Brewers Fayre (Falkirk)
- King William IV — Brewers Fayre (Worksop)
- Langton Inn — Table Table (Harborough)
- Leamington Spa Town Centre — Bar + Block (Leamington Spa)
- Loggans Moor — Brewers Fayre (Hayle, Cornwall)
- Mains of Balquharn — Brewers Fayre (Portlethen)
- Mill of Mundurno — Table Table (Bridge of Don, Aberdeen)
- Monkey Puzzle — Brewers Fayre (Farnborough)
- Moor Mill — Beefeater (Radlett)
- Morris Dancers — Beefeater (Scarisbrick, Ormskirk)
- Ocean Park — Brewers Fayre (Cardiff)
- Old Nelson — Brewers Fayre (Stroud)
- Oyster Reach — Beefeater (Ipswich)
- Pantruthyn Farm — Table Table (Bridgend)
- Preston Brook — Beefeater (Runcorn)
- Smugglers Retreat — Table Table (Ramsgate)
- Swallow — Brewers Fayre (Ipswich)
- The Colliers — Table Table (Rugeley, Staffordshire)
- The Freeman — Cookhouse + Pub (Bridlington)
- The Howgate — Brewers Fayre (Whitehaven)
- The Plough, Dover — Beefeater (Dover)
- Three Fish — Beefeater (Newport)
- Trevithick Inn — Table Table (Camborne)
- Twelve Bells — Beefeater (Gloucester)
- White Hart, Guestling — Beefeater (Hastings)
- Whiteley — Bar + Block (Farnham)
- Widnes — Brewers Fayre (Cheshire)
- The Longford Inn – Beefeater (Cannock)
- The May Tree – Whitbread (Helston)
- The Bridgewater Arms – Whitbread (Halmer End)
- Liskeard Tavern – Whitbread Inn (Liskeard)
- Stourbridge Town Centre – Premier Inn (Stourbridge)
