Over 3,500 jobs lost as UK restaurant chains list properties

An Oxfordshire Brewers Fayre and a Beefeaters have been put up for sale after Whitbread announced it was going to cut 3,800 jobs at the restaurant chains, amid a restructure in the company.

The proposed redundancies will come as the owner of Premier Inn shuts the two brands, although a spokesperson added that it would try to retain as many staff as possible.

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Included in its strategy Whitbread said it will sell and lease back many of its freehold properties and this week the Brewers Fayre in Oxford Road, Bicester has been listed for £950,000.

Nor is it the only property in the chain to have been put up for sale with others in Bishop Auckland and in Portsmouth listed.

The Oxfordshire eatery’s sale is subject to the transfer of all staff to the new owners on completion and includes two staff flats.

Brewers Fayre in Bicester (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)

Its listing states: “The property presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a large-format hospitality venue in one of Oxfordshire’s strongest retail and tourism locations.

“The close proximity to Bicester Village provides exposure to significant visitor numbers, while the adjacent Premier Inn delivers an additional source of customer demand throughout the week.”

In addition The Applecart Beefeater at the Oxford South Milton Interchange has been listed for a £600,000 sale this week.

This is also subject to a transfer of employment agreement and includes a flat and bedsit accommodation.

Interior of Bicester Brewers Fayre (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)

Its listing states: “The Applecart presents an excellent opportunity to acquire a substantial hospitality venue in one of Oxfordshire’s most strategically located commercial positions.

“The combination of strong roadside prominence, excellent transport links, extensive parking and direct access to both business and residential catchments provides multiple income opportunities for an incoming operator.”

Across the country, some Beefeater and Brewers Fayre eateries have already been switched over to Whitbread’s own in-house Thyme brand.

Interior of The Applecart Beefeater at the Oxford South Milton Interchange (Image: Christie Owen & Davies Ltd)

Others are being sold and closed with the cuts set to impact about 12 per cent of Whitbread’s 30,000-strong workforce in the UK and Ireland working in its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants

A statement was issued on the restructuring earlier this year in which it was announced a number of the restaurants would be converted into additional Premier Inn rooms.

A spokesperson said: “We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.

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“As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.

“However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.

“We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected.”