{{short description|Multinational hotel and restaurant company}} {{About|the company}} {{Use British English|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Whitbread plc | logo = Whitbread newer logo.svg | former_name = Whitbread Holdings (2000{{endash}}2001)<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=2000-12-01 |title=WHITBREAD PLC overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04120344 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Companies House |language=en}}</ref> | type = Public limited company | traded_as = {{lse|WTB}}<br>FTSE 100 Component | foundation = {{start date and age|1742}} in London, England | founder = Samuel Whitbread | location = {{nowrap|Houghton Regis, England, UK}} | key_people = {{ubl|{{wd-chairperson}}|{{wd-ceo}}}} | area_served = {{Ubl | United Kingdom | United Arab Emirates | Ireland | India | Germany }} | industry = {{Ubl | Leisure | Hospitality }} | products = | revenue = {{decrease}} £2,920.2 million (2026)<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FY26-Preliminary-Results.pdf|title=Annual Results 2025/26|access-date=30 April 2026|publisher=Whitbread PLC}}</ref> | operating_income = {{increase}} £648.9 million (2026)<ref name=results/> | net_income = {{decrease}} £212.9 million (2026)<ref name=results/> | num_employees = 34,000 (2026)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/|title=Whitbread is a leading hospitality business|publisher=Whitbread|access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref> | divisions = {{Ubl | Premier Inn | Brewers Fayre | Table Table | Beefeater | Cookhouse & Pub }} | subsid = | parent = | owner = | homepage = {{URL|whitbread.co.uk}} | footnotes = }}
'''Whitbread''', previously trading as '''Whitbread, Martineau & Co.''',<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Martineau Society |url=https://martineausociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Martineau-Society-paper-26-07-18.pdf |publisher=Martineau Society |access-date=3 October 2024 |date=2018 |quote=Joseph in fact became a partner in the business at the time of the merger – the same time as his father. Three years later, in 1815, annual production reached 161,672 barrels, which at 36 gallons each, equated to over forty-six and a half million pints! Another of John's sons, Richard, later also became a partner. The business was known as Whitbread, Martineau & Co. until the mid-1840s. John and his sons Joseph and Richard all became wealthy through their partnerships in Whitbread's.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Redman |first1=N. |title=THE STORY OF WHITBREAD PLC 1742 - 1990 by Company Archivist Nicholas B. Redman|date=1992 |publisher=WHITBREAD PLC. CHISWELL STREET, LONDON |pages=30 |url=https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_399718_smxx.pdf |access-date=6 October 2024 |quote=The business was known as Whitbread, Martineau & Co. until the mid-1840s.}}</ref> is a British multinational hotel and restaurant company headquartered in Houghton Regis, England. The business was founded as a brewery in 1742 by Samuel Whitbread in partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell, with premises in London at the junction of Old Street and Upper Whitecross Street, along with a brewery in Brick Lane, Spitalfields. Samuel Whitbread bought out his partners, expanding into porter production with the purchase of a brewery in Chiswell Street, and the company had become the largest brewery in the world by the 1780s.<ref name="James11"/>
Its largest division is currently Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with over 785 hotels and 72,000 rooms. Until January 2019 it owned Costa Coffee but sold it to The Coca-Cola Company. Whitbread's brands include the restaurant chains Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Table Table.<ref name=aboutus>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/index.html|title=Our Brands|access-date=3 November 2016|publisher=Whitbread PLC|archive-date=27 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027053526/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It has not operated a brewery since 2001.
Whitbread is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
==History== thumb|Chiswell Street brewery in 1792
=== Origins === The business was formed in 1742 when Samuel Whitbread formed a partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell. They acquired a small brewery at the junction of Old Street and Upper Whitecross Street, along with a brewery in Brick Lane, Spitalfields, which was used for brewing pale and amber beers.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/39057?docPos=3|title=Whitbread, Samuel|year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/39057 |access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> Godfrey Shewell withdrew from the partnership as Thomas Shewell and Samuel Whitbread bought the large site of the derelict King's Head brewery in Chiswell Street in 1750.<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref name="James14">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=14 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> The new brewery was for the specific production of porter, and was renamed the Hind Brewery after the Whitbread family coat of arms.<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref name="James21">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=21 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref>
While not the first to brew porter, Whitbread was the first to exploit it commercially on a large scale.<ref name="James21"/> This coincided with an increase in beer consumption in the UK, following regulations to limit the sale of gin owing to the excesses of the Gin Craze.<ref name="James21"/> By 1758 production at Chiswell street was 65,000 barrels and the firm had become the largest firm of porter brewers in the UK.<ref name="James21"/> From the outset, Whitbread was the leading financial partner, and solely responsible for management, and in 1761, Whitbread acquired Shewell's share of the business for £30,000.<ref name=autogenerated1 />
By the 1780s Whitbread had become the largest brewery in the world.<ref name="BlockerFahey2003">{{cite book|author1=Jack S. Blocker|author2=David M. Fahey|author3=Ian R. Tyrrell|title=Alcohol and Temperance in Modern History: An International Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BuzNzm-x0l8C&pg=PA656|year=2003|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-833-4|pages=656–657}}</ref><ref name="James11">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=11 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> In 1796 the company produced 202,000 barrels of porter.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> The firm struggled after the death of Samuel Whitbread Sr, and saw ownership transfer to his son, also called Samuel Whitbread.<ref name="BlockerFahey2003" /> The company adopted the name '''Whitbread & Co. Ltd''' in 1799.<ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/history-of-whitbread.html |title=History of Whitbread |publisher=Whitbread.co.uk |access-date=2014-04-11 |archive-date=2 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302102225/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/history-of-whitbread.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Expansion and social welfare=== By the 1810s, Samuel Whitbread Jnr (1764–1815) had brought in several new investment partners including his cousin Jacob Whitbread and the Master Brewer John Martineau I (1758-1834).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Burke |first1=Bernard |title=A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain...Martineau of Walsham-le-Willows|date=1921 |publisher=Burke Publishing Company |page=1213 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NdQnBjtwLdkC&dq=john+martineau+1834&pg=PA1213 |access-date=5 October 2024 |quote=John Martineau I of Stamford Hill [born 1758] died 1834...}}</ref><ref name="James39">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=39 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> Four generations of Martineau's descendants, father-to-son, would later sit on the board of Whitbread, including John Martineau I's great great grandson, John Edmund Martineau.<ref name="James39"/> In 1812, the company merged with the Martineau Brewery holdings and by 1816, leadership was shared between William Henry Whitbread, Joseph Martineau and his father John Martineau I, who died in an industrial accident in a yeast vat in the brewery in 1834. Joseph Martineau became a partner in the business at the time of the merger – the same time as his father John. Three years later, in 1815, annual production reached 161,672 barrels, which at 36 gallons each, equated to over forty-six and a half million pints. Another of John's sons, Richard Martineau, later also became a partner. The business was known as '''Whitbread, Martineau & Co.''' until the mid-1840s. By 1860, William Henry Whitbread - nephew of Prime Minister Earl Grey, shared partnership of the firm with John Martineau II (1834-1910) - grandson of John Martineau I and grandson-in-law of Lord Stanley of Alderley.<ref>{{cite journal |title=WHITBREAD AND COMPANY LIMITED {BREWERS} Date(s) 1742-2000 (Creation) |journal=London Metropolitan Archives |date=2000 |url=https://atom.aim25.com/index.php/whitbread-and-company-limited-brewers |access-date=5 October 2024 |publisher=Max Communications Ltd. |quote=William Whitbread (1795-1867), the second son of Samuel Whitbread (1764-1815), and John Martineau became partners in 1860}}</ref><ref name="James57">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=57 |isbn= 978-0907383369 }}</ref><ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Deane |first1=Mary |title=The book of Dene, Deane, Adeane. A genealogical history |date=1899 |publisher=Elliot Stock, London |page=139 |url=https://archive.org/details/bookofdenedeanea00dean/page/138/mode/2up?q=Martineau}}</ref>
In her published 1877 autobiography, John Martineau I's niece, author Harriet Martineau, wrote that she had been a guest at "the great Brewery" in December 1831 where she had presented herself "without notice" to her "kind cousin [John's son, Richard Martineau (1804 - 1865)] and his family" at the "great Brewery [where] night after night, the brewery clock struck twelve, while the pen was still pushing on in my trembling hand". She continued: "I was really glad to be alone during those three eventful weeks, - feeling myself no intruder and being under the care of attentive servants".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Martineau |first1=Harriet |editor1-last=Chapman |editor1-first=M.W. |title=Harriet Martineau's Autobiography |date=1877 |publisher=James R. Osgood and Company, Boston |pages=125, 126 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cY0AAAAAYAAJ&dq=night+after+night+harriet+martineau&pg=PA126 |access-date=6 October 2024 |quote=1831, ...}}</ref>
By 1870, Whitbread had begun producing bottled beers for sale and continued to expand production. On 24 July 1889, the company became a registered limited liability company.<ref name="James67">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=67 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> In 1914, the firm claimed it was "the largest beer bottler in the world."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Turner |first1=David |title=New Developments in the Brewing Industry: The Role of Institutions and Ownership New Developments in the Brewing Industry |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191888854 |page=169 - 191 |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/33760/chapter-abstract/288444749?redirectedFrom=fulltext |access-date=5 October 2024 |quote=Whitbread: "The largest beer bottler in the world”: Developing Whitbread & Co’s Bottling Operation, 1869–1914...In 1914, the London brewer Whitbread & Co. claimed it was the “largest beer bottler in the world.” Arguably it was, it having a network of more than forty bottling depots and stores in Britain and Belgium, with a dozen bottles available anywhere in Britain for 2/6}}</ref>
By the 1870s, John Martineau II had bought land in Eversley where he had boarded with his tutor Charles Kingsley. This was, as reported by the Bury Free Press in 1902, 'to rebuild cottages and to build fresh ones realising, long before it became the popular cry, that the fundamental basis for improving the health, happiness and morals of England was decent and healthy housing.’<ref>{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=J. |title=Bury Free Press - 6th December 1902 - The Opening Of A New Priory Room 'Another splendid addition to the long list of Mr. John Martineau's gifts to the parishioners of Walsham le Willows |url=https://www.walsham-le-willows.org/clubs-groups-charities/history-group/reviews/number-24-january-2003/ |publisher=Walsham le Willows Parish Council |access-date=5 October 2024 |quote=The Opening Of A New Priory Room ‘Another splendid addition to the long list of Mr. John Martineau’s gifts to the parishioners of Walsham le Willows has just been completed with the erection of a new room for meetings in connection with the church...The Martineau Cottages Next year the Martineau family will celebrate 150 years of residence in and service to Walsham. It was John Martineau (1834–1910) who was responsible for the building of the elaborate estate cottages. Although he inherited the estate on the death of his father Richard in 1865, he did not live here. Instead he maintained the estate for his mother Lucy and his sisters, and visited often. At the age of sixteen John had been sent to Eversley in Hampshire to become a pupil of Charles Kingsley rector there and the author of “The Water Babies”, where he was greatly influenced by and became devoted to him. Later he began buying land in Eversley in order to build cottages there. The Eversley cottages are almost identical to those in Walsham. ‘He bought land in Eversley in order to rebuild cottages and to build fresh ones realizing, long before it became the popular cry, that the fundamental basis for improving the health, happiness and morals of England was decent and healthy housing.’}}</ref>
===Guinness Brewery=== From 1904, Whitbread was bottling Guinness stout.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bone |first1=Robert |title=Research handbook and the history of trademark law |date=2024 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |page=292 |isbn=978-1-78897-310-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RK8pEQAAQBAJ&dq=whitbread+bottled+guinness+beer&pg=PA292 |access-date=3 October 2025}}</ref> This cooperation, and rivalry, between the two breweries continued into the 20th century with both firms boasting a Master of the Worshipful Company of Brewers; John Edmund Martineau, the great great grandson of John Martineau, in 1955 and Cecil Edward Guinness, the great great great great nephew of Arthur Guinness, in 1977.<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: Edward Guinness obituary Influential director of his family's eponymous brewing company who squared up to the chief executive 'Deadly Ernest' Saunders |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/edward-guinness-obituary-xkr2jm32d |access-date=3 October 2024 |work=The Times|date=3 February 2023 |quote=[He was] the great-great-great-great-nephew of Arthur Guinness, who founded the brewery with the eponymous name…Cecil Edward Guinness was born in 1924 in Leyland, Lancashire, the son of Cecil Guinness, the manager of a cotton mill near Chorley, and Betty Knowles Davies...}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=400 known Masters of the Worshipful Company of Brewers. |url=https://www.brewershall.co.uk/the-company/history-treasures/past-masters |publisher=Brewers' Company |access-date=3 October 2025 |date=2025}}</ref> In the 1920s Whitbread introduced the Double Brown which was designed to rival Guinness and was almost a recreation of Whitbread's original porter.<ref>{{cite journal |title=WHITBREAD AND COMPANY LIMITED {BREWERS} Date(s) 1742-2000 (Creation) |journal=London Metropolitan Archives |date=2000 |url=https://atom.aim25.com/index.php/whitbread-and-company-limited-brewers |access-date=5 October 2025 |publisher=Max Communications Ltd |quote=In the 1920s Whitbread also introduced the Double Brown which was designed to rival Guinness and was almost a recreation of Whitbread's original porter.}}</ref>
In 2000, ''The Guardian'' reported that Whitbread was the country's third largest brewer and that Guinness was the largest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clark |first1=A. |title=Whitbread calls last orders for beer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2000/may/26/personalfinancenews.business2 |access-date=3 October 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=26 May 2000 |quote=Whitbread is the country's third largest brewer. Guinness is the largest.}}</ref>
=== 20th century === alt=The 1985–86 Whitbread Round the World Race|thumb|The 1985–86 Whitbread Round the World RaceBy 1905, the Chiswell Street brewery reached its largest extent and annual production throughout the company breweries had reached nearly 700,000 barrels.<ref name="James74">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=74 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> Production decreased during the First World War with Whitbread brewing over 575,000 barrels in 1917.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2018/01/kidd-beers-in-early-1917.html|title=Shut up about Barclay Perkins: Kidd beers in early 1917|date=2018-01-04|website=Shut up about Barclay Perkins|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref>
In the 1920s and 1930s, the company bought out several other brewers, including the Forest Hill Brewery and its pubs, and later the Kent Brewery Frederick Leney & Sons, with 130 of its pubs.<ref name="James74"/> The company was also reorganised under the leadership of Sir Sydney Neville and introduced new ales, including Double Brown ale.<ref name="James97">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=97 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> Whitbread ended regular production of porter in 1940 due to its declining popularity and a need to rationalise its product range following Second World War damage to its brewery sites.<ref name="porter">{{cite web |last1=Pattinson |first1=Ron |title=Let's Brew Wednesday - 1940 Whitbread Porter |url=http://barclayperkins.blogspot.com/2019/10/lets-brew-wednesday-1940-whitbread.html |website=Shut Up About Barclay Perkins |date=30 October 2019 |access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref> 565 Whitbread pubs were also extensively damaged in the war, primarily during the Blitz.<ref name="James107">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=107 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref>
The company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1948 following a decision by the principal owners to take the company public under the direction of WH (Bill) Whitbread.<ref name="BlockerFahey2003" /><ref name="James110">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=110 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> The next three decades saw Whitbreads merged with over a dozen other regional breweries, including Tennant Brothers of Sheffield in 1961 and Brickwoods in 1971.<ref name="James115">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=115 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> Between 1961 and 1971, Whitbread's output increased from 46 to 160 million imperial gallons (2.1 to 7.4 million hectolitres) and it became Britain's third-largest brewer by output.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BuzNzm-x0l8C&q=mack&pg=PA657|title=Alcohol and Temperance in Modern History|isbn=9781576078334|access-date=1 February 2015|last1=Blocker|first1=Jack S.|last2=Fahey|first2=David M.|last3=Tyrrell|first3=Ian R.|year=2003|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}</ref>
In 1971, Whitbread inaugurated the Whitbread Book Awards.<ref>[http://www.costa.co.uk/media/300231/CBA-Past-Winners-2015-Version.pdf (CBA-Past-Winners-2015-Version.pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915193952/http://www.costa.co.uk/media/300231/CBA-Past-Winners-2015-Version.pdf |date=15 September 2015 }}. Costa Book Awards. Retrieved 12 September 2015.</ref> The next year, Whitbread became the initiating sponsor of the Whitbread Round the World Race, a sailing yacht race around the world held every three years. Whitbread sponsored the race until 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yachtingworld.com/features/whitbread-round-the-world-race-59997|title=Drastic early days of broken boats and high drama in Whitbread Round the World Race|publisher=Yachting World|date=12 November 2014|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> In 1973, the company purchased Long John International, a Scottish distiller whose brands included Laphroaig whisky and Plymouth gin.<ref name="James130">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=130 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> Later spirit acquisitions, also included the distiller James Burrough and the brand Beefeater Gin which was later sold.<ref name="James135">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=135 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref>
Whitbread acquired a 20% stake in TVS for £6.5M from European ferries in April 1984.<ref>Whitbread buys £6m TVS stake. By Derek Harris Commercial Editor. The Times, Thursday, 12 Apr 1984; pg. 18</ref> By 1982, the company turnover exceeded £1 billion for the first time.<ref name="James130"/> In 1984, Samuel Charles Whitbread became chairman and a reorganisation of the company took place into separate divisions; the spirits arm, including Laphroaig was sold to Allied Distillers in 1989.<ref name="James132">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=132 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last = Ap| title = COMPANY NEWS; Allied-Lyons Is Buying Whitbread Liquor Unit| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2018-07-21| date = 1989-12-23| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/23/business/company-news-allied-lyons-is-buying-whitbread-liquor-unit.html}}</ref>
The company diversified into other hospitality holdings and invested in new ventures in the 1980s and 1990s, including Beefeater, Pizza Hut, Berni Inns, Heineken Steak Bars and TGI Fridays.<ref name="James133">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=133 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref> In the early 1990s, Whitbread was required to sell almost 2,500 pubs, as a result of the Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) Order 1989 (SI 1989/2390).<ref name="James137">{{cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry| date=1992 |title= An Uncommon Brewer, the Story of Whitbread |location=London |publisher=James & James |page=137 |isbn= 978-0907383369}}</ref>
In July 1996, Whitbread purchased the Pelican Group (comprising 110 restaurants under the Dôme, Mamma Amalfi and, primarily, Café Rouge brands) for £133m,<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitbread PLC History|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/whitbread-plc-history/|publisher=Funding Universe|access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref> and in November 1996, Whitbread acquired the restaurant group BrightReasons (owner of brands including Bella Pasta and Pizzaland) for £46m.<ref name="Herald">{{cite news |title=BrightReasons Group |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12030685.brightreasons-group/ |access-date=8 June 2020 |work=Glasgow Herald |date=28 November 1996}}</ref>
=== 21st century === thumb|right|The former stables of the Garrett Street Whitbread Brewery in London (erected 1897)
In 2001, Whitbread decided to sell all its breweries and brewing interests (Whitbread Beer Company) to Interbrew, now known as InBev.<ref name="history" /> Whitbread-branded alcoholic beverages are still available in the UK, such as canned Whitbread bitter, but these are not produced by InBev, but rather under licence by other producers. InBev controls the use of the Whitbread brand and the hind's head logo for use on beverages. In 2002 Whitbread sold its pub estate, known as the Laurel Pub Company, to Enterprise Inns,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020413/ai_n12607979|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918013012/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020413/ai_n12607979|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-09-18|title=Enterprise Inns buys 1,860 pubs to become UK's top landlord {{!}} Independent, The (London) {{!}} Find Articles at BNET|date=2008-09-18|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> and sold its Pelican and BrightReasons restaurant groups for £25m to Tragus Holdings<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/whitbread-sells-restaurant-groups-6299454.html|title=Whitbread sells restaurant groups|date=31 May 2002|work=Evening Standard|access-date=31 May 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> (later renamed Casual Dining Group). The Whitbread & Co brewery building at 52 Chiswell Street in London still survives, although beer ceased to be brewed there in 1976<ref name="BlockerFahey2003" /> and it is now a conference and events venue. Still named "The Brewery", it was part of the Earls Court and Olympia Group from 2005 to 2012, when it was subsequently sold to a private investor.<ref>[http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article570406.ece Whitbread sells historic brewery] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612063338/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/consumer_goods/article570406.ece |date=12 June 2011 }}</ref>
In 2005, it moved its core operations from CityPoint in central London, to Oakley House in Luton,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/whd92128.htm |title=Whitbread – market intelligence |publisher=Ukbusinesspark.co.uk |access-date=2014-04-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222002551/http://www.ukbusinesspark.co.uk/whd92128.htm |archive-date=22 February 2014 }}</ref> and then, in 2006, to larger offices at Whitbread Court in Dunstable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessmk.co.uk/news/art/120/Whitbread-sells-group-headquarters.html|title=Whitbread sells group headquarters|date=1 October 2006|publisher=Business Milton Keynes|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> In 2006, it went on to sell 239 of its 271 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites to Mitchells & Butlers, who rebranded them into Harvester, Toby Carvery and a selection of other brands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5202164.stm |title=Business | Beefeater sites bought by M&B |work=BBC News |date=2006-07-21 |access-date=2014-04-11}}</ref>
In 2013, as part of the 2013 horse meat scandal, DNA tests ordered by Whitbread revealed that horsemeat was present in some meat products sold in outlets owned by the company, at the time Britain's biggest hotel group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21468699 |title=BBC News – Horsemeat scandal: Supermarkets 'share anger and outrage' |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2013-02-15 |access-date=2014-04-11}}</ref><ref name="reuters">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9873300/Compass-and-Whitbread-caught-up-in-horse-meat-scandal.html|title=Compass and Whitbread caught up in horse meat scandal|agency=Reuters|date=15 February 2013|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=1 February 2015}}</ref> On 26 February 2013 Whitbread vowed to remedy the unacceptable situation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/feb/26/whitbread-food-chain-horsemeat-scandal|title=Whitbread makes food pledge after horsemeat scandal|work=The Guardian|date=26 February 2013 |access-date=1 February 2015}}</ref>
In 2018, Whitbread faced pressure from two of its largest shareholders, hedge fund Sachem Head and activist group Elliott Advisers, to break itself up by splitting off the Costa Coffee chain, the theory being the individual businesses would be worth up to 40% more than the current market capital value.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-sale.com/news/article/will-costa-coffee-chain-be-up-for-sale-soon-38853.html |title=Business Sale Report – Will Costa Coffee chain be up for sale soon |publisher=business-sale.com |date=2018-04-22 |access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref> On 25 April 2018, Whitbread announced its intention to demerge Costa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/media/press-releases/2018/25-04-2018a |title=Whitbread Group Structure Update |publisher=whitbread.co.uk |date=2018-04-25 |access-date=2018-04-25}}</ref> On 31 August 2018, it announced that The Coca-Cola Company had agreed to buy Costa Coffee for £3.9bn.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coca-Cola to buy Costa chain for £3.9bn |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45365893 |access-date=31 August 2018 |agency=BBC News}}</ref>
In September 2020, the company announced that they would be cutting jobs, warning that 6,000 staff could lose employment. The company blamed the cuts on a slump in hotel guest numbers since the beginning of the UK's lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-09-22|title=Whitbread to cut 6,000 jobs as hotel demand slumps|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54246403|access-date=2020-09-22}}</ref>
Sir Samuel Whitbread died in January 2023 and was the last family chairman of the brewery, who hastened the company’s move from beer to leisure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Telegraph Obituaries - Sir Sam Whitbread, last family chairman of the brewer, who hastened the company's move from beer to leisure – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/01/31/sir-samuel-whitbread-obituary-beer-brewing-bedfordshire-hotels/ |access-date=3 October 2024 |publisher=UK Daily Telegraph |date=31 January 2023}}</ref>
==Current operations== Whitbread's principal current operations are: [[File:Premier Inn Hotel, Manor Royal, Crawley.JPG|thumb|A Premier Inn in Crawley]]
===Premier Inn=== {{Main|Premier Inn}} Premier Inn is the UK's largest budget hotel chain, with over 750 hotels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobile.bighospitality.co.uk/Venues/Premier-Inn-opens-600th-UK-hotel#.VM17MmisWSo|title=Premier Inn opens 600th UK hotel|access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref>
In January 2026, it was announced that Whitbread had sold nine Premier Inn hotels to LondonMetric Property for £89 million as part of a sale and leaseback transaction. Whitbread continued to operate the hotels under new 30-year lease agreements following the sale. The acquisition increased LondonMetric’s Premier Inn portfolio to 22 hotels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaidi |first=Afroze |date=2026-01-13 |title=LondonMetric acquires more Premier Inn Hotel sites for £89m {{!}} TheBusinessDesk.com |url=https://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2107239-londonmetric-acquires-more-premier-inn-hotel-sites-for-89m |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=West Midlands |language=en}}</ref>
===Table Table=== [[File:Table Table signage (Swinging Bridge, Urmston, Greater Manchester).jpg|thumb|Table Table signage (Swinging Bridge, Urmston, Greater Manchester)]] Table Table is a UK restaurant brand. They started as converted Brewers Fayre restaurants. The brand was originally set up in 2006 unnamed; the name Table Table was launched in May 2008. There are around 100 sites in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/table-table.html|title=Table Table|access-date=31 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206143457/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/table-table.html|archive-date=6 February 2015}}</ref>
===Beefeater=== {{Main|Beefeater (restaurant)}}
Beefeater was launched in 1974. The chain underwent a huge revamp in the early 2000s. It then proceeded to change its name to "Beefeater Grill" for a period but in 2014 reverted to "Beefeater". Beefeater had around 140 restaurants across the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/beefeater-grill.html|title=Beefeater|access-date=31 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131170428/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/beefeater-grill.html|archive-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> In April 2024 Whitbread announced plans to sell 126 unprofitable Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants. It also set out plans to close a further 112 restaurants and convert them into more hotel rooms.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=James |date=2024-03-11 |title=Whitbread's property team takes the stairway to eleven in FY23/24 |url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/whitbreads-property-team-takes-the-stairway-to-eleven-in-fy23-24/ |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=Whitbread PLC |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Batches of restaurants were sold off over a 2 year period, with at least 15 (such as Coombe Lodge, Croydon) being bought by the Papa’s Group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://papasgroup.co.uk/|title=The Papas Group |}}</ref>, re-opening as a poorly-performing JD Wetherspoons pub as part of a franchise agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://insidecroydon.com/2025/12/23/coombe-lodge-open-at-last-but-it-doesnt-seem-quite-finished/|title=Coombe Lodge open at last, but it doesn’t seem quite finished|date=23 December 2025|website=Inside Croydon}}</ref>
In May 2026 Whitbread announced the eventual closure of all 197 of their remaining restaurants (including Beefeater, Brewer’s Fayre and Bar + Block), with the loss of around 3800 jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ye5g9m7mpo|title=Premier Inn owner Whitbread to cut 3,800 jobs in savings plan|date=30 April 2026|website=BBC News}}</ref>
===Brewers Fayre=== [[File:Brewer's Fayre, Royal Quay, North Shields - geograph.org.uk - 121055.jpg|thumb|Brewer's Fayre, Royal Quay, North Shields]] {{Main|Brewers Fayre}}
Brewers Fayre is a pub-restaurant brand which was created in 1979. The pubs are designed to look and feel like traditional local pubs but with a particularly strong family presence. There are around 145 pubs across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/brewers-fayre.html|title=Brewers Fayre|access-date=31 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206143435/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/brewers-fayre.html|archive-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> In April 2024 Whitbread announced plans to sell 126 unprofitable Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants. It also set out plans to close a further 112 restaurants and convert them into more hotel rooms.<ref name="auto1"/>
===Whitbread Inns===
The Whitbread Inns brand of restaurants was created by Whitbread in 2014. In January 2016 there were 13 pubs (all of which were Table Table) across central and southern England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://whitbreadinns.co.uk/|title=Whitbread Inns|access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref>
==Former operations== Whitbread's former operations include: * Costa Coffee, was founded in London in 1971 by the brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa as a wholesale operation supplying roasted coffee to caterers and specialist Italian coffee shops. Acquired by Whitbread in 1995, it had since grown to over 2,861 stores across 30 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33934/whitbread-plc.html|title=Catering & Hospitality News|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-date=18 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418151856/http://www.caterersearch.com/Companies/33934/whitbread-plc.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2018, Whitbread announced that it would sell Costa Coffee to The Coca-Cola Company in a deal worth £3.9bn. The acquisition was completed on 3 January 2019 following a $4.9 billion transaction, with approval from regulatory authorities in the EU and China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190103005331/en/Coca-Cola-Company-Completes-Acquisition-Costa-Whitbread-PLC|title=The Coca-Cola Company Completes Acquisition of Costa from Whitbread PLC|date=2019-01-03|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2019/01/03/Coca-Cola-completes-Costa-coffee-acquisition|title=Coca-Cola completes Costa acquisition: 'Our vision is to use Costa's platform to expand in the growing coffee category'|last=beveragedaily.com|website=beveragedaily.com|date=3 January 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-08}}</ref> * Brewsters, a brand created in 1999. The emphasis was on families and most sites had been built as Brewers Fayre; this was to give Brewers Fayre a more adult feel.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brewster's Restaurants - Break From The Old Routine by Oui 3|website = YouTube| date=26 March 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfYCUfB0Exs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/MfYCUfB0Exs |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> * Taybarns, an all-you-can-eat American buffet-style restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8320043.stm|title=Rise of the all-you-can-eat restaurant|website=newsvote.bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref> There were six sites in England and one (the very first site at Swansea) in Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/taybarns.html|title=Taybarns|access-date=31 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206143502/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/our-brands/taybarns.html|archive-date=6 February 2015}}</ref> * Britvic, a large UK manufacturer of soft drinks, producing brands such as J2O, Robinson's and Tango as well as Pepsi in the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/1101148a-5d84-11da-be9c-0000779e2340|title=Britvic IPO to value drinks group at up to £537m|date=25 November 2005|publisher=FT.com|access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> * Marriott hotels and clubs in the UK, sold to brand owner Marriott Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/profiles/8081483/When-Alan-Parker-moved-Whitbread-from-beer-to-hotels-no-one-got-it-they-do-now.html|title=When Alan Parker moved Whitbread from beer to hotels no-one got it, they do now|work=The Telegraph|date=23 October 2010|access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> * TGI Friday's – Whitbread originally held the UK franchise rights to the American restaurant chain TGI Friday's. The restaurants are known for their "over the top" American style and are popular with teenagers for birthday parties. On 17 January 2007 Whitbread announced that the franchise rights for TGI Friday's were being sold to a joint venture between Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc and ABN AMRO Capital for £70.4m.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bill |first=Tom |url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/01/17/310943/whitbread-sells-tgi-fridays-to-joint-venture.html |title=Whitbread sells TGI Friday's to joint venture – Caterer and Hotelkeeper |publisher=Caterersearch.com |date=2007-01-17 |access-date=2014-04-11}}</ref> * Pizza Hut UK, sold to brand owner Yum!<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/nov/09/pizza-hut-restaurants-sold-rutland|title=Pizza Hut restaurants sold to investment group|date=9 November 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> * David Lloyd Leisure – Whitbread ran more than 50 David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) clubs in Great Britain and Ireland, with a further number in Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. DLL is Britain's biggest tennis operator and manages more than 500 tennis courts. On 4 July 2007, Whitbread announced that it had conditionally agreed to sell the David Lloyd Leisure chain to Versailles Bidco Limited for £925 million. Whitbread will initially use the proceeds from its sale to pay off debt.<ref>[http://www.whitbread.co.uk/media.cfm?id=press_releases&view=229 "Sale of David Lloyd Leisure"]. Whitbread plc. 4 June 2007. ''URL accessed 4 June 2007.'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529100311/http://www.whitbread.co.uk/media.cfm?id=press_releases&view=229 |date=29 May 2007 }}</ref> * Hogshead, a group of town-centre pubs, similar to Wetherspoons, became part of the Laurel Pub Company in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4489445/Luminar-eyes-Hogshead-pubs-deal.html|title=Luminar eyes Hogshead pubs deal|date=15 April 2001|work=The Telegraph|access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> * Threshers, a chain of off licences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6583701/Former-owners-Punch-Taverns-and-Whitbread-face-Threshers-liability.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119071231/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6583701/Former-owners-Punch-Taverns-and-Whitbread-face-Threshers-liability.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 November 2009|title=Former owners Punch Taverns and Whitbread face Threshers liability|date=16 November 2009|work=The Telegraph|access-date=31 January 2015}}</ref> * Germany: Churasco, owned since 1990, and Maredo, owned since 1994; in 1999 the Churasco restaurants had been transformed into Maredo-branded ones; Maredo was sold in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maredo.de/maredo-gruppe/fakten-historie/meilensteine.html |title=Milestones |publisher=Maredo |access-date=31 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012242/http://www.maredo.de/maredo-gruppe/fakten-historie/meilensteine.html |archive-date=19 April 2014 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.whitbread.co.uk Whitbread official website] * {{PM20|FID=co/024636|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=}} {{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Companies}} {{Whitbread}} {{FTSE 100 Index constituents}} {{authority control}}
Category:Whitbread Category:British brands Category:Defunct breweries of the United Kingdom Category:Catering and food service companies of the United Kingdom Category:Hospitality companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies based in Bedfordshire Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:British companies established in 1742 Category:Restaurant chains in the United Kingdom Category:1742 establishments in Great Britain Category:Food and drink companies established in 1742 Category:Companies in the FTSE 100 Index