Brewers Fayre

Brewers Fayre
TypeSubsidiary
Brewers Fayre
Brewsters
Founded1981[1]
HeadquartersDunstable, England
Area served
United Kingdom
OwnerWhitbread
Websitebrewersfayre.co.uk

Brewers Fayre is a British chain of pub-restaurants, founded in 1981 by Whitbread, and are best known for being orientated towards families and serving a Sunday Carvery.

Starting from one trial location in 1981, Brewers Fayre expanded to over 100 locations nationwide by the end of the 1980s. In 1992, Charlie Chalk Fun Factory soft play crèches were added in many of its locations, and in 1999, Whitbread launched the Brewsters spin-off, a pub chain focused towards young children's entertainment.[2]

In April 2006, Whitbread began consolidating their Brewers Fayre estate, selling off standalone sites to favour those situated near its sister Premier Inn hotels. In the early 2020s, Whitbread began exploring sales of most of its Brewers Fayre business to focus on their Premier Inn business, and in April 2026, Whitbread announced a cull of all Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations.[3]

The chain will close down on 7 September 2026.[4]

History

Beginnings and national expansion (1981–2005)

In 1979, Vic and Jean Ellis purchased The Farmers Arms pub on the outskirts of Preston. Whitbread promised the couple they would fund a refurbishment if the pub made a profit, which it did a year later. In 1981, the pub was renamed to Brewers Fayre, which had been tweaked by Whitbread from Jean's initial suggestion of 'Brewery Fayre'. Within a month of the refurbishment, the pub was trading very successfully and was reportedly attracting visitors from 30 miles away. By the end of the 1980s, Whitbread had expanded the Brewers Fayre chain as one of its flagship brands, hosting over 100 locations across the UK.[5]

In 1992, Brewers Fayre began incorporating Charlie Chalk Fun Factory play crèches at its locations.[6] In its 1994/1995 company accounts, Whitbread announced that it had expanded its Charlie Chalk Fun Factories to 50 of the 224 Brewers Fayre locations.[7] The chain had expanded to 381 locations by early 1999.[8]

In 1999, Brewers Fayre announced the Brewsters spin-off, turning entire pubs into venues aimed at young families, replacing Charlie Chalk with Brewster the Bear, all featuring soft-play and activities.[9] Whitbread reported in its 2000/1 accounts that there were 393 sites, 120 of them Brewsters.[10]

In its 2004/05 accounts, Whitbread announced it would phase out its 144 Brewsters pubs, and rebrand all of its sites as Brewers Fayre, as the pubs lost trade to focusing too heavily on young families. However, the soft play areas would remain.[11] All Brewsters would be phased out to Brewers Fayre in 2005. Brewster the Bear would continue as the mascot of Brewers Fayre's soft play areas, before gradually being phased out.[12]

The Honourable Pilot at the A2/A289 junction in Kent

Whitbread consolidation (2006–2022)

In April 2006, Whitbread announced that they would sell most Brewers Fayre and Beefeater pubs that were not situated near their Premier Inn hotels. In June 2006, the number of pubs to be sold was set at 235, alongside four additional sites that had yet to begin trading.[13]

In July 2006, these 239 sites were sold to rival Mitchells & Butlers, with the former Beefeater sites being converted to Toby Carvery, and former Brewers Fayres sites being converted to Harvester and other brands.[14] With the remaining standalone Brewers Fayres, Whitbread would construct Premier Inn hotels on disused land.[15]

In July 2008, Whitbread engaged in an asset swap with Mitchells & Butlers, trading 44 Brewers Fayre and Beefeater pubs for 21 Holiday Inn hotels. These pubs had been refused planning permission for a Premier Inn, and Whitbread converted the Holiday Inns to Premier Inns.[16]

Castle Lake at Leybourne at the A228 junction 4 of the M20, near Leybourne Lakes Country Park

In January 2011, Brewers Fayre opened its first new-build site in five years, Malt & Myre, at Lomondgate Drive, Dumbarton.[17] The second-ever Brewers Fayre to open in Ireland opened in November 2012 as part of the Premier Inn at Crescent Link on the Waterside in Derry.[18] Ireland's first Brewers Fayre was The Harbour in Carrickfergus.

In 2015, Brewers Fayre launched a new themed children's menu with Dennis the Menace, alongside refurbishment to their play areas. The collaboration with Dennis the Menace began in 2013.[19]

In March 2016, it was announced that Whitbread's Taybarns brand would be phased out, with existing sites converted into Brewers Fayre.[20] The first site to convert was Barnsley (The Wentworth) and the last site to change was South Shields in September 2016.[21]

In July 2022, the first new Brewers Fayre since 2017, The Willen Dragon in Milton Keynes, opened.[22]

Downfall (2023–)

In May 2023, Whitbread announced that it was looking to sell around 250 of its 400 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites, due to losses and poor sales. Initially, it was thought all sites might have been put up for sale. Greene King and other competitors were looking to acquire these sites.[23]

Inshes Gate next to the A9 at Inverness

On 24 March 2024, Whitbread announced it had drafted in advisors Christie & Co to sell between 30 and 50 of its poorest-performing Beefeater and Brewers Fayre outlets to market rivals, such as Mitchells and Butlers and Greene King, most of which were situated next-door to Premier Inn hotels.[24] Sources added a further 100 of these pubs and restaurants are expected to be converted into extra hotel rooms for Premier Inn locations. 126 under-performing Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, and Table Tables were put up for sale, which left the brand with 196 "better-performing" branded restaurants.[25]

The closure process began in July 2024, starting with the de-branding of Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pubs into generic dining rooms to serve guests staying at the adjoining Premier Inn.[26]

On 30 April 2026, Whitbread announced the closure of all 197 remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants. Those adjoining a Premier Inn will be converted to an "integrated food and beverage offer" alongside additional hotel rooms.[27] As part of the programme to exit branded restaurants, market rival Mitchells & Butlers acquired a package of seven sites in June 2026. The package included former Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, and it was announced the acquired sites would be converted into Miller & Carter and Toby Carvery restaurants.[28]

In August 2026, it was announced that Queensway, a hospitality group, would acquire 53 Brewers Fayre and Beefeater sites. At the time of this announcement, Queensway did not confirm the new brand name, pricing or when the sites would reopen.[29]

References

  1. ↑ The Times (London) 27 September 1999, Monday "Corporate profile", by Martin Waller
  2. ↑ "Brewers Fayre Closes Hessle Site After Decades Of Service". Grand Pinnacle Tribune. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "For guest information: Whitbread Branded Restaurants are open and trading - Whitbread PLC". 18 June 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Restaurant chain to shut all Norfolk sites and end 45-year history". Eastern Daily Press. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  5. ↑ The Welcome, Brewers Fayre (1996). Summer 1996. Brewers Fayre.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ↑ "WHITBREAD GROUP PLC filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "WHITBREAD GROUP PLC filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "WHITBREAD GROUP PLC filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Captain Digby". MorningAdvertiser.co.uk. 15 January 2004. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "WHITBREAD PLC filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Gazette, Estates (28 October 1999). "Whitbread to open Brewsters". Estates Gazette. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "WHITBREAD PLC overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Patenall, Helen (12 June 2006). "Whitbread to sell 235 pubs | Leisure Opportunities news". www.leisureopportunities.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  14. ↑ O'Neil, Iain (20 July 2006). "Whitbread sells pubs to M&B for £497million". MorningAdvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Three Bells, Hordle, New Forest". Daily Echo. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Eversham, Emma (30 July 2008). "Whitbread and M&B in restaurant and hotel swap". restaurantonline.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Cohen, Norma (29 April 2011). "Economy Watch: Reality rains on wedding parade". Financial Times. London. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 21 June 2016.(subscription required)
  18. ↑ Donna Deeney, The Belfast Telegraph, 26 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Dennis the Menace causes mischief at Brewers Fayre in Chippenham". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Whitbread to discontinue Taybarns concept". MCA Insight. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Prince, David (6 September 2022). "Remembering Taybarns - the all-you-can-eat restaurant loved by many". Wales Online. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Maurice-Jones, Amelie (20 June 2022). "Brewers Fayre to open first site in 5 years". The Morning Advertiser. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  23. ↑ restaurantonline.co.uk (30 May 2023). "Whitbread considering sale of restaurant brands". restaurantonline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  24. ↑ McAllister, James (25 March 2024). "Whitbread looks to offload underperforming Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites". restaurantonline.co.uk. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  25. ↑ McGuire, Laura (24 March 2024). "Whitbread plots sale of underperforming restaurant and pub sites". CityAM. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  26. ↑ Gray, Fin (2 July 2024). "Brewers Fayre in Grimsby and Cleethorpes to close". Grimsby News - Gi Grimsby. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  27. ↑ Partridge, Joanna (30 April 2026). "Last Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants to close, with loss of 3,800 jobs, Premier Inn owner says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Gyton, Georgi; MCA (9 June 2026). "M&B to acquire small package of Whitbread sites". MorningAdvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  29. ↑ Gough, Owen (13 August 2026). "Queensway to rescue 53 Whitbread pubs earmarked for closure". Retrieved 19 August 2026.
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