British hospitality firm Common Table Group has agreed to buy 57 restaurant sites from Whitbread PLC, with the purchased locations expected to reopen as early as next month.
The deal, announced on Wednesday, October 7, comes just weeks after all 261 Whitbread food sites, including Brewers Fayre, Beefeater and Cookhouse, were closed in September as part of a five-year restructuring plan to exit the food industry.
The buyers were supported by Rove360, a hospitality consultancy whose team includes former Whitbread senior managers. The acquisition is reportedly set to create around 700 new jobs, according to City AM.
Which sites are included?
It is currently unclear which official sites were bought over, although family-favourites Beefeater and Brewers Fayre are said to be included. It has not been clarified where they are located or if the deal covers any of the 18 sites that closed in Scotland.
Common Table Group is now said to be investing in refurbishing the purchased restaurants, with punters expecting exciting new menus. Barista-style coffee will also be provided by the firm's sister group, Rodeo, which operates 15 sites across greater London and Manchester.
As of writing, all of the closed-down restaurants' websites are still offline, and it is unclear if the rewards schemes will be back up and running as part of the new deal.
Who is behind Common Table Group?
The new buyer is a chef-operator hospitality giant founded by coffee entrepreneur Thomas Anderson. It currently owns three other brands: strEAT, Oak & Thistle and Decimo Nono.
Anderson told City AM: "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."
The Daily Record has approached Common Table Group and Whitbread PLC for more information.
Why did Whitbread PLC close all its restaurants?
The hotel conglomerate announced in April that it would undergo a five-year strategy to overhaul its business, with the move reportedly saving the firm around £250 million.
All branded restaurants—Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Cookhouse+ and Bar + Block—were permanently closed by September. These are set to be converted into around 600 additional Premier Inn rooms.
Whitbread announced the changes as part of its Accelerating Growth Plan, announced in 2024, which will see the conversions create an integrated restaurant at all hotels. Around £1.5 billion worth of freehold property from sites that won't be converted are set to be sold off as part of the plans.
In total, the repurposing will see the firm's number of hotel rooms rise from 86,600 to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year. The move resulted in heavy job cuts, with around 3,800 staff members being made redundant. Whitbread PLC advised that it aimed to redeploy many affected employees within its wider business.
