'Most iconic British restaurant chain' sets closure date as it shutters all 106 restaurants

After serving hundreds of thousands of guests over the last five decades, a beloved pub chain has announced the last day that fans can get a slice of the action as more than 100 locations are set to be axed for good.

Britain has seen some iconic chains closing over the last seven months, with the majority of BrewDog sites being wiped out due to acquisition and ‘healthy’ fast-food joint Leon saying farewell due to plunging into administration.

Patty&Bun customers have been forced to almost give up the brand completely; Turtle Bay revealed plans to enter lease renegotiations for 30 percent of its estate earlier this summer, and Franco Manca detailed that 16 restaurants across the UK would cease to exist, citing unsustainable business practices and costs.

Beefeater has also been put on the chopping block along with its sister sites Brewers Fayre and Bar + Block, with parent company Whitbread detailing a complete exit from the standalone restaurant sector.

Beefeater will close up shop on 10 September (John Keeble/Getty Images)

The shutdown will see 106 chains closing their doors for good, with numerous sites transitioning to become smaller, integrated kitchens.

According to The Mirror, the mass shuttering will allow Whitbread to convert some soon-to-be-abandoned premises into Premier Inns, with around 600 new rooms set to be created.

Customers who have been loyal to the brand for the last 52 years will no longer be able to get their habitual Friday afternoon pint, or chow down on a Sunday dinner with friends and family, as the kitchen will solely serve hotel guests.

It’s understood that any locations not meeting ‘corporate hotel profitability standards’ will be sold off to other companies, confirmed chief executive Dominic Paul.

Sadly, the closures, scheduled for 10 September 2026, could cause around 3,800 people to lose their jobs.

Whitbread has apparently initiated consultation procedures, insisting that it aims to safeguard positions wherever feasible ‘by relocating affected staff into alternative roles within its broader hotel operations’, as per the publication.

Unite union said it was seeking consultations with Whitbread over the proposed redundancies.

Some staff will be able to work at Premier Inn, the company said (Paul ELLIS / AFP)

In a statement, Unite national officer Colenzo Jarrett-Thorpe said: “It is disgraceful that Whitbread employees heard about the job cuts through the media. The company did not even have the decency to let its staff know first.

“Unite will be demanding full consultations with Whitbread on these plans and it will be providing full support to our members impacted by the proposed job cuts.”

Fans of Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Bar + Block alike have come out in droves to debate the closures, with many expressing sadness as the ‘most iconic British restaurant chain’ comes to an end.

“Of all the things, I’m genuinely a bit sad about this. Pub restaurants like this and Brewers Fayre can be a real community hub in poorer areas, where low income families can get out for a bit, they cater for kids with activities and cheap meals,” one Reddit user said.

A second lamented: “Remember them being quite good as a kid back in the 80s, I had a birthday meals out there a few times with my parents and a few friends.”

“Sad. Always liked Beefeater,” someone else added.