Whitbread plans £4.75m Brewers Fayre refurbishment

Leisure group Whitbread today unveiled plans to spend £4.75m refurbishing its Brewers Fayre pub estate in an effort to attract more cost-conscious diners.

The company, which also owns the Premier Inn budget hotel chain and Costa Coffee, said the introduction of "two for £9" meal offers at Brewer Fayre pubs last year has led to renewed interest in the brand, increasing midweek covers (up 15.7% year-on-year) and like-for-like sales (up by 1.3%).

Whitbread said it will refurbish 20 Brewers Fayre sites prior to Christmas and another 18 afterwards.

Patrick Dempsey, managing director of Whitbread hotels and restaurants said: "Brewers Fayre was established over 25 years ago and since then the market has become flooded with competitor value propositions. Our offering to the Brewers Fayre customer is simple – to serve Britain's favourite pub food' at great value, without compromising on quality, in a comfortable and welcoming environment." 

In June, Whitbread opened a new Brewers Fayre in Banbury, Oxforshire – the pub group's first new site since 2005.

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By Nick Huber

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