More than 200 familiar venues across Britain will close this September as three major chains confirm sweeping shutdowns. Stationery retailer TG Jones, steakhouse chain Beefeater and pub brand Brewers Fayre will together shut over 200 locations during the month, adding fresh pressure to a retail and hospitality sector already facing rising costs and changing consumer habits.
TG Jones to close 19 stores
TG Jones will close 19 stores throughout September, with clearance sales already running in affected branches. Customers can currently get discounts of up to 30% off in-store ahead of the closures.
The shutdowns will roll out gradually across the month. Bath will be first to go on Tuesday, September 1, followed by Redcar and Redhill on September 5. Market Harborough and Uckfield close the week after, while Cambridge, Deal, Swindon, Helston and Basildon lose their stores mid-month. Dates for Cardigan and Wells have not yet been announced.
TG Jones took over a number of WH Smith branches last year following a rebranding exercise. A company-wide restructure was announced on July 1, putting around 150 stores at risk of closure.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre shutdowns
The closures at Beefeater and Brewers Fayre are larger. All 106 Beefeater restaurants will close on Thursday, September 10, while 89 Brewers Fayre pubs will follow on Monday, September 7.
Whitbread, which operates Premier Inn, confirmed in April that both restaurant brands would be wound down as part of a broader strategy. Around 30,000 staff are currently employed across the two brands.
Whitbread chief executive Dominic Paul said at the time: "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."
Full list of closing sites
Beefeater closures on September 10 include The Anchor (Lincolnshire), The Applecart (Oxford), Badgers Sett (Worcestershire), Bagle Brook (Port Talbot), Balmoral Inn (Hampshire), The Barn (Buckinghamshire), The Beacon (Kent), The Belgrave (Devon), Bentley Green (West Midlands), Border Gate (Cumbria), The Brache (Bedfordshire), The Brecks (South Yorkshire), Broomside Park (County Durham), The Bull (Kent), Carnon Inn (Cornwall), Centre (Dundee), The Coldra (Newport), Countess Wear (Devon), The Cricketers (Surrey), Crossbush (Sussex), Crows Nest (Hertfordshire), Deer Park (West Lothian), The Dukes Worksop (Nottingham), Eureka Park (Kent), Euston Way (Shropshire), The Farmhouse (Cheshire), Farnborough (Hampshire), The Fountain (Twickenham, London), The Foxburrow (Suffolk), Frome Flyer (Bristol), George In The Tree (West Midlands), The Gifford (Bristol), Gourdie Croft (Dundee), The Granary (Cambridgeshire), Great Oak (Hampshire), Great Yarmouth Seafront (Norfolk), Griff House (Warwickshire), Halfway House (Bedfordshire), Halifax (West Yorkshire), Hamilton (Glasgow), Harbour Lights (Hampshire), Harlow Mill (Essex), The Haywain (Essex), Heaton Park (Lancashire), The Kingswood (East Yorkshire), Lady Nairne (Edinburgh), The Ladybridge (Staffordshire), The Lakeside (South Yorkshire), Liberty Bell (Essex), London Woolwich (Woolwich, London), The Longbow (Rhondda Cynon Taff), Longbridge (West Midlands), Longford House (Staffordshire), The Longwall (Oxford), The Lydiard (Wiltshire), Malta Inn (Kent), Manor Farm (Kent), Marsh Mills (Devon), Medina Quay (Isle of Wight), Mill House (Surrey), Mill Lodge (Lincolnshire), Millers Barn (Nottingham), The Millfield (York), Moor Mill (Hertfordshire), Morris Dancers (Lancashire), Morton Park (County Durham), Moseley Park (West Midlands), Oakley Hay (Northamptonshire), Oast & Squire (Hampshire), The Orchard (Worcestershire), Oxford Kidlington (Oxford), Oyster Reach (Suffolk), Packet Steamer (Merseyside), The Parkway (Surrey), The Pavilion (Somerset), The Plough (Kent), Preston Brook (Merseyside), Priory Marina (Bedfordshire), Quay House (Lancashire), Rackstraws Farm (Berkshire), Red Lion (Lancashire), Redditch (West Midlands), Roman Way (Nottingham), Sir Thomas Wyatt (Kent), Smugglers Haunt (Dorset), The Somerford (Dorset), The Southcote (Berkshire), Springwood Park (Cheshire), Spruce Goose (Hampshire), Stag & Rainbow (Merseyside), Strawberry Field (Essex), The Talpore (County Durham), The Three Fish (Shropshire), Travellers Rest (Harrow, Middlesex), The Turnpike (Northamptonshire), Twelve Bells (Gloucestershire), Walston Castle (Cardiff), Ware (Hertfordshire), The Waterfront (Swansea), The Watermill (Essex), White Hart (Sussex), White Lodge (Somerset), White Rock (Devon), Whitegate Inn (Lancashire), Whitley Bay (Northumberland) and The Woolpack (Kent).
Brewers Fayre closures on September 7 include Abergavenny, Afon Conwy, Aire & Calder, Bankhead Gate, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry Island, Bedford South, Bicester, Bideford, Bobbing Apple, Brampton Hut, Brookers Oast, Burton House, The Carousel, Castlewood, Central Park, Cepen Park, Chafford Hundred, Chequers Corner, Cheswold Lodge, The Clarence Pier, Cockermouth, Cottams Field, Craig House, Crossways, Dalesway, Derry City, The Drove, Duke of York, Exeter, The Farrier, Flagstaff Island, Freebridge Farm, Glastonbury, Gordano Gate, The Hampton, Hanley, The Harbour, The Howgate, Inn On The Quay, Inshes Gate, Kembrey Inn, Kincardine Way, King William IV, Lakeland Gate, Lewins Mead, Lock Keeper, Lodmoor, Loggans Moor, Mains of Balquharn, The Marina, The Mayflower, Minehead, Monkey Puzzle, Mulberry Tree, Newhaven Quay, Oakenhurst Farm, Oaks, Ocean Park, Ocean Plaza, Old Nelson, Old West Quay, Orbital, Papermill, Pirnhall Inn, Queens Crossing, The Redwood, Rhubarb Triangle, Rising Sun, Royal Quays, The Sandpiper, Stable Gate, The Swallow, Swansea Vale, Telford Lodge, Tindale Crossing, Tirfounder Fields, Turnpike, Victoria Park, Walsall, Water Mill, The Wessex Flyer, The Wessington, Wheatlea Park, Whittle Inn, Widnes, Willen Dragon, The Windmill and Winsor House (Beckton, London).
