52-year-old Beefeater restaurant chain closing all 106 UK locations
Beefeater, a 52-year-old family-friendly steakhouse chain in the United Kingdom, is closing all 106 remaining locations by September 2026. Owner Whitbread announced the shuttering as part of a restructuring plan to cut annual costs by £250 million ($333 million USD). The chain, which opened its first location in Enfield, London in 1974, once had approximately 140 locations. Whitbread plans to convert some sites into hotel rooms or unbranded hotel restaurants, while others will be sold, potentially freeing up £1.5 billion ($2 billion USD). Approximately 3,800 employees are affected, though Whitbread expects to redeploy a significant proportion to other roles within its hospitality portfolio, including Premier Inn hotels. The Beefeater loyalty scheme will end on August 31, 2026. The closures reflect broader struggles in the casual dining sector amid rising operating costs and changing consumer trends.
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