MORE than 100 pubs famous for their Sunday roasts and carveries are set to be converted into hotel restaurants or accommodation.
Pub campaigners have slammed a move by Whitbread to bar the public from 115 venues next to the chain's Premier Inn sites - including 48 Beefeater and 45 Brewers Fayre hostelries.
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The Campaign for Real Ale declared its "utter dismay" over plans to restrict the venues to Premier Inn guests only or turn them into additional rooms.
Camra chief executive Tom Stainer, writing an open letter to the Whitbread board, said the decision flew in the face of the company's stated mission to "make a positive contribution to the communities" it served.
Mr Stainer wrote: "I would ask that you carefully reflect on whether the actions that you have put in train align with your previous commitments and your outlined values."I would argue that they do not.
"Closing a pub – which is a community amenity facility and gathering space – to the local community that it serves is not only contrary to the aims of your environmental, social and governance strategy, it will also impact upon your ability to maintain that you are a 'trusted brand'."
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Camra claimed in a statement that Whitbread had "been able to use a grey area in the current planning system in England that makes it easier to claim that pubs are in fact restaurants", making change of use permission "more likely to be granted".
National planning policy adviser Paul Ainsworth said: "Concerningly, it appears that most of these pubs have been closed to the public under the argument that they are restaurants and worryingly most local authorities have accepted that.
"We are now campaigning for a legal definition of a pub for planning purposes so that if you can buy a drink at the bar without purchasing a meal, the venue would be considered a pub."
In the wake of scandals such as The Crooked House demolition, unacceptably high levels of unlawful conversions and demolitions, and now this, we need the new Government to act now to strengthen planning protections and enforcement options for local councils."
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Whitbread and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have been contacted for comment.
What is going on at Whitbread?
The no-frills hospitality chain said earlier this year it would close down a number of under performing sites, either by shuttering them or converting them into Premier Inn sites.
Beefeater bring out two summery gins with zesty Blood Orange and sweet Pink Strawberry
Some 112 restaurants will be turned into hotel extensions, while 126 "loss-making" venues will close.
It hopes the sales will be completed within thenexttwo years and the restaurants will remain open as usual until they are sold.
This is to accommodate its "Accelerating Growth Plan" that will add 3,500 new hotel rooms to Premier Inn’s UK pipeline.
The hospitality chain said it has already agreed to sell 21 of these restaurants for £28million.
Whitbread said: "Over the next 24 months we plan to replace around 112 of our lower-returning branded restaurants with integrated restaurants and use the vacated space to add new higher returning hotel rooms to help meet strong demand."
It added that in the same time period it's planning to exit 126 branded restaurants which will continue to operate as they do now so that they can be sold as going concerns.
Which brands does Whitbread own?
WHITBREAD is a hospitality business and the owner of Premier Inn.
It has around 840 sites across the UK, including restaurants attached to its hotels and standalone venues.
Here is a full list of the brands that Whitbread owns:
- Premier Inn
- Hub by Premier Inn
- Zip by Premier Inn
- Beefeater
- Bar+Block
- Thyme
- Cookhouse & Pub
- Brewers Fayre
- Table Table
- Whitbread Inns
Money from the sales will be reinvested into the business, such as building more tailored restaurants and new hotel rooms across its estate.
It recently shut its Hampton Inn Table Tablein Salisbury on July 4, devastating locals.
Writing In a Facebook post, one person said: "Miss their breakfasts," while another wrote: "loved our naughty lunches there."
"Oh this is sad many lovely memories," said another.
Another venue that has recently closedis the Premier Inn and Beefeater in Godalming,Surrey.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
ManyFood and drinkchains have been struggling in recently as thecost of livinghas led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after thepandemic, only to be hit with soaringenergybillsandinflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands likeWetherspoonsandbranches.
Some chains have not survived,Byron Burger fell into administrationlast year,with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200jobs.
Pizza giant,Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its storessoon.
Tasty, the owner ofWildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
The brand plansto close 20 loss-making restaurantsafter a “challenging” start to the year.
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