A number of North East Beefeater restaurants are set to close permanently tomorrow (Thursday, September 10) as part of a major shake-up of the hospitality sector.
Sites in Darlington, Whitley Bay, Stockton, and Durham will shut down as part of a national restructure by parent company Whitbread.
The closure of the Beefeater brand, which has been on UK roadsides for more than 50 years, is part of a broader cost-cutting plan announced earlier this year, which includes the closure of 89 Brewers Fayre sites across the UK.
This move is expected to result in the loss of around 3,900 jobs, around 12 per cent of Whitbread staff.
A chief executive of the company said: "We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term."
A number of Brewers Fayre sites closed earlier this week, including Broomside Park, Durham, and Tindale Crossing, Bishop Auckland.
Beefeater locations to close this week:
Broomside Park, Durham
The Talpore, Stockton
Whitley Bay, North Tyneside
Morton Park, Darlington
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Whitbread has cited rising business rates and national insurance costs as key reasons for the closures.
The company says it is shifting towards a more hotel-focused model, with plans to replace its standalone restaurant brands with integrated food and drink offerings within its Premier Inn sites.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants have traditionally operated alongside Premier Inn hotels, serving both guests and the wider public.
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