List Of Beefeater Restaurants Closing Whitbread

So, you’ve heard the news, right? Whitbread is closing a bunch of Beefeater restaurants. It’s like that friend who suddenly decides to Marie Kondo their life, but with pubs.

And honestly? I felt a little pang. Not a full-on sob, but a “wait, not that one” kind of feeling. You know the one.

The Great Beefeater Purge of 2024

Whitbread—the big boss behind Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, and Premier Inn—is swinging the axe. They’ve announced they’re closing up to 126 of their restaurants, with a chunk of those being Beefeaters.

Why? Because the cost of everything is stupid. Inflation, energy bills, and the fact that we’re all staying home to watch Netflix instead of going out for a £12 mixed grill.

They’re calling it a “radical simplification.” Fancy corporate speak for “we have to shut some down so the others don’t die.”

Which Beefeaters Are on the Chopping Block?

Here’s where it gets messy. Whitbread hasn’t released an official full list—yet. It’s more like a slow drip of closures, announced site by site.

We do know a few confirmed casualties. The Beefeater in Plymouth near the Mount Wise Premier Inn? Gone. The one in Rotherham on Sheffield Road? Toast.

Also, the Crossway Beefeater in West Sussex shut its doors in late 2023. And the one in Hexham? Yep, that one’s been boarded up too.

Oh, and don’t forget Bristol. The Beefeater at the Aztec West Premier Inn is now just a sad, empty building. It’s like a bad breakup you saw coming.

Wait, Is My Local Beefeater Safe?

That depends. If your Beefeater is attached to a Premier Inn that’s still busy, you’re probably fine. Whitbread is keeping the ones that print money.

But if yours feels a little quiet? A little tired? Start saying your goodbyes. It’s a business, not a charity—even if the desserts feel like comfort food therapy.

I’d recommend checking the Save Beefeater groups on Facebook. They’re pure gold. Lots of people posting grainy photos of a steak and asking, “Is it true?”

The Real Reason They’re Closing

Look, it’s not just about the cost. Whitbread is repurposing these spaces. They’re turning a bunch of Beefeater sites into Premier Inn rooms or new Brewers Fayre pubs.

Because apparently, we want more places to sleep and fewer places to eat a giant plate of onion rings. Priorities, people.

It’s a classic “trim the fat” move. Pun absolutely intended, because have you seen the triple-chocolate brownie menu?

Will We Miss Beefeater?

Okay, let’s be real for a second. Beefeater isn’t Michelin-star dining. It’s the place you go when you can’t decide what to eat, so you just point at the menu and say, “bring me something with chips.”

But it was reliable. You knew the decor would be a mix of wood and old photos, and the salad bar would have that one sad piece of lettuce. It was comfortably average.

And for a lot of us, it was the spot for family birthday dinners or a cheap steak after a long drive. That’s a real loss, even if the food wasn’t life-changing.

What Happens Next?

Whitbread says the closures will happen in “waves” through early 2025. So if your local Beefeater is still open, don’t panic—but maybe go one more time.

Order the Loaded Nachos. Get the Slow-Cooked BBQ Ribs. Live a little. Because next year, they might just be a Premier Inn lobby with a vending machine.

And if you’re wondering, “Will I even notice?” Honestly, maybe not. But it’s still the end of an era. An era of serviceable steaks and bottomless fizzy drinks.

So here’s to you, Beefeater. You weren’t fancy. You weren’t trendy. But you were there, and sometimes that’s enough. Cheers, mate.

P.S. If you’re gutted about your local closing, don’t worry—Toby Carvery is still standing. For now. (Just kidding… unless?)