New hospitality company Common Table Group has agreed to acquire 58 sites from Whitbread for an undisclosed sum. The deal comprises 57 restaurant sites and one Premier Inn hotel and is expected to create 700 new hospitality jobs.
Founded by coffee entrepreneur Thomas Anderson, Common Table Group said it plans to invest in refurbishing the restaurants and introduce “exciting” new menus. The restaurants, which include former Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Cookhouse sites, are set to reopen from next month.
Background of the Shutdown
Whitbread announced it would close all 106 of its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants on September 7, cutting nearly 4,000 jobs across the UK and Ireland. The company's Beefeater restaurants followed suit on September 10.
Around 12% of the workforce from the closed locations will lose their jobs. The company plans to offload £1.5bn of freehold properties, reducing the overall portion of owned properties across its portfolio from 50% to 30%.
Plans for the Acquired Sites
Common Table Group is supported by Rove360, a hospitality transformation consultancy whose team includes former Whitbread senior managers. On acquiring the lost locations, the company said: "The sites will remain restaurants at heart, with an all-day food and drink menu for hotel guests and locals, alongside a new speciality barista Rodeo coffee offer from its sister company, Rodeo Group.
"Each restaurant will be run with the spirit of an independent, working closely with the teams who know their local area best. They will provide welcoming places where families, friends and communities can come together, feel at home and enjoy the good times."
The new group's website says that Common Table is "roadside restaurant, bar, coffee stop and general store rolled into one". A full list of locations is yet to be confirmed.
Other Acquisitions
Thomas Anderson, the founder of Rodeo Doughnuts and managing director of Common Table Group, 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."
Queensway Inns also acquired 53 sites across the UK, including the former Widnes Brewers Fayres site, as well as a handful of Bar + Block and Cookhouse + Pub venues, resulting in up to 900 employees across the hotel group transferred to the company.
The Widnes Brewers Fayre location has been renamed The Foundry, with the same concept and staff as before. Although "a few" redundancies were made, the long-time staff have been retained and will move forward with the pub's next chapter.
