Whitbread swaps pubs focus for hotels

Whitbread is selling four of its pubs as part of restructure plans to focus on properties offering hotel accommodation.

The company, which owns Premier Inn, Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Beefeater, has announced plans to phase out its standalone pubs as part of its restructure.

“It is not our intention to run standalone pub restaurants in the future as our long-term strategy is to operate pub restaurants with a hotel alongside where we can capture the benefits of both our Premier Inn and pub restaurant brands,” said Simon Hobb, head of asset management at Whitbread.

The pubs for sale include one freehold, the Nevill Crest and Gun in Kent, and three long leaseholds - the Down Grange in Hampshire, the Greaves Park in Lancashire, and the Worsley Old Hall in Great Manchester.

Joint agents Christie + Co and Gerald Eve are handling the sales and offers are invited for the group or individually.

Noel Moffitt, director at Christie + Co, said: “These high quality opportunities will prove attractive to regional brewers, multiple-site operators and established local operators.”

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By Emma White

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